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UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


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DIALECTIC  AND  PHILANTHROPIC 

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Form  No  513, 
Rev.  1/84 


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THE 


DESPATCHES 

OF 

HERNANDO    CORTES, 

THE  CONQUEROR  OF  MEXICO, 

ADDRESSED  TO  THE  EMPEROR  CHARLES  V. 

WRITTEN  DURING  THE  CONQUEST, 
AND    CONTAINING     A    NARRATIVE    OF    ITS    EVENT-S. 

NOW  FIRST  TRANSLATED  INTO  ENGLISH  FROM  THE  ORIGINAL  SPANISH, 
i  WITH  AN 

INTRODUCTION    AND    NOTES, 

BY     GEORGE     FOLSOM, 

ONE  OF  THE  SECRETARIES  OF  THE    NEW-YORK  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY,  MEMBER  OF  THE  AMERICAN 
ANTIQUARIAN  SOCIETY,  OF  THE  ARCHAIOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF  ATHENS,  &C,  &C. 


NEW-YORK: 

WILEY  AND  PUTNAM,  161  BROADWAY 

LONDON: 

STATIONERS'  HALL  COURT 

1843. 


UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  Of  WORTH  CAROLINA 
•    *   •  -*L  HILL 


Entered  according  to  an  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1843, by  Charles  J.  For.soM,  in  the 
Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 


WM.    OSBORN,   PRINTER, 
88  William-street. 


PREFACE 


This  stirring  narrative  of  toil  and  adventure,  addressed  by  the 
celebrated  conqueror  of  Mexico  to  his  sovereign,  although  replete 
with  the  most  romantic  interest,  has  hitherto  escaped  an  English 
translator.  Written  amidst  the  very  scenes  described,  in  a  tone  of 
honest  sincerity,  and  with  a  scrupulous  attention  to  the  truth,  which 
none  has  ever  attempted  to  gainsay,  these  Letters  or  Despatches,  after 
being  published  separately  as  they  were  received  in  Spain,  seem  to 
have  been  overlooked  and  forgotten  when  in  the  lapse  of  time  the 
original  editions  had  disappeared  from  the  public  eye.  Even  Antonio 
de  Solis,  historiographer  to  his  Catholic  Majesty,  whose  classical  and 
popular  work  on  the  Conquest  of  Mexico  appeared  in  1684,  confesses 
that  he  was  beholden  to  an  Italian  translation  for  his  knowledge  of  one 
of  them.*  Indeed,  they  seem  not  to  have  been  republished  in  Spain 
until  1749,  when  they  were  inserted  in  Barcia's  collection  of  Hislo- 
riadores  Primilivos,  or  Early  Historians.  Afterwards,  in  1770,  ano- 
ther edition  appeared  at  the  city  of  Mexico,  superintended  by  Arch- 
bishop, since  Cardinal  Lorenzana,  who  enriched  it  with  copious  notes; 
and  this,  together  with  a  biographical  sketch  of  Cortes  originally  writ- 
ten in  English  by  the  late  R.  C.  Sands,  was  re-printed  in  1828,  at 
New-York,  for  the  Mexican  market.  The  present  translation  has 
been  made  from  the  Archbishop's  Mexican  edition,  many  of  whose 
notes  have  been  retained,  which  are  marked  with  the  initial  of  his 
name. 

The  First  Letter  appears  not  to  have  been  printed  ;  at  least,  no  trace 
of  it  has  been  found,  either  in  print,  or  manuscript,  in  Spain,  or  in 
Germany  ;  and  we  are  therefore  compelled  to  begin  with  the  Second, 
and  to  give  the  previous  events  in  an  Introduction. 

*  Mr.  Rich,  of  London,  in  his  Catalogue  of  books  relating  to  America,  men- 
tions a  copy  of  the  original  edition  of  the  Third  Letter  of  Cortes  as  being  in  his 
possession,  the  price  of  which  is  marked  at  the  high  price  of  10Z.  10s.  or  about 
fifty-two  Spanish  dollars,  on  account  of  its  very  great  rarity. 


,02 


74^ 


IV  PREFACE, 

The  Second  Letter  was  printed  at  Seville,  in  1522 ;  of  which  a 
Latin  translation  appeared  at  Nuremberg  in  March,  1524 ;  this  again 
was  turned  into  Italian,  and  published  at  Venice  in  August  of  the 
same  year.* 

The  Third  Letter  was  printed  at  Seville,  in  1523  ;  translated  into 
Latin  by  the  same  hand,  and  published  at  Nuremberg  the  following 
year.f 

The  Fourth  Letter  was  printed  at  Toledo  in  1525  ;  and  together 
with  the  two  former  appeared  in  the  third  volume  of  Ramusio's  col- 
lection of  Voyages  and  Travels,  (in  Italian,)  at  Venice,  1556.  This 
was  the  edition  consulted  by  Solis,  as  mentioned  above. 

A  German  translation  of  them  was  printed  at  Augsburg,  in  1550, 
and  another  at  Heidelberg,  in  1779. 

A  French  translation,  by  M.  Le  Vicomte  de  Flavigny,  appeared  at 
Paris  in  1776.  This  was  made  from  the  edition  of  Archbishop  Lo- 
renzana,  as  appears  from  the  preface  of  the  noble  translator,  in  which 
he  says—"  I  present  to  the  public  a  precious  morceau  of  literature 
and  history,  edited  in  1770,  with  the  utmost  care,  by  the  present 
Archbishop  of  Toledo,  formerly  Archbishop  of  Mexico.  From  the 
time  of  Cassar  to  the  sixteenth  century,  Cortes  is  the  only  great  captain 
who  has  related  his  own  exploits.  Although  the  conqueror  of  the 
Gauls  had  the  advantage  both  in  regard  to  the  character  of  his  ene- 
mies, and  in  point  of  style,  Cortes  will  nevertheless  appear  worthy  of 
his  high  reputation.  His  prudence,  his  courage,  his  enlarged  views, 
his  resources,  and  even  his  prejudices,  and  those  of  the  age,  which  he 
treated  with  respect,  will  ever  illustrate  the  period  in  which  he  lived, 
and  the  astonishing  revolution  effected  by  his  arms.  At  the  same 
time,  as  long  as  the  simple  and  frank  tone  of  a  modest  but  undoubted 
hero  affords  pleasure,  so  long  will  these  letters  be  read  with  delight 
by  posterity,  and  afford  instructive  lessons  to  mankind." 

The  translation  of  Flavigny  has  no  other  fault  than  its  freedom,  or 
in  other  words,  its  abridgement  of  the  original ;  sometimes  almost  an 

*  A  copy  of  this  Italian  edition  was  presented  a  few  years  since  to  the  New- 
York  Historical  Society,  by  Samuel  Ward,  Esq. ;  it  purports  to  have  been  made 
from  the  Latin  of  "  II  Dottore  Pietro  Savorgnano,"  secretary  to  the  bishop  of 
Vienna  ;  the  name  of  the  Italian  translator  was  Nicolo  Liburnio. 

t  A  copy  of  the  Latin  translation  of  the  second  and  third  Letters  by  Dr.  Sav- 
orgnano, printed  at  Cologne  in  1532,  belongs  to  the  Philadelphia  Library;  for 
the  use  of  which  the  writer  is  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  the  Librarian  of  that 
institution. 


PRE  FACE. 


entire  page  being  condensed  int®  three  or  four  lines.    This  is  shown 
by  the  following  comparison  :— 

Flavigny's  Translatiom 
L'eau  douce  parvient  a  Mexico  par 
deux  tuyaux  de  deux  pieds  de  circon- 
ference  chacun,  et  qui  sont  places  le 
long  de  l'une  des  chaussees,  par  les- 
quelles  on  aborde  en  cette  ville ;  cette 
eau  se  distribue  le  long  des  rues  dans 
differens  canots,  pour  etre  ensuite 
vendue  au  public. — p.  100. 


Re-translation  of  the  French. 
Fresh  water  is  conveyed  to  Mexico 
by  means  of  two  pipes,  each  two  feet 
in  circumference,  which  extend  along 
one  of  the  causeways  leading  to  the 
city.  This  water  is  carried  through 
the  streets  in  canoes  and  sold  to  the 
people. — Portfolio,  vol.  iv.  p.  289. 


The  original  literally  translated : 
Along  one  of  the  causeways  that 
lead  into  the  city  are  laid  two  pipes, 
constructed  of  masonry,  each  of  which 
is  two  paces  in  width,  and  about  five 
feet  in  height.  An  abundant  supply 
of  excellent  water,  forming  a  volume 
equal  in  bulk  to  the  human  body,  is 
conveyed  by  one  of  these  pipes,  and 
distributed  about  the  city,  where  it  is 
used  by  the  inhabitants  for  drinking 
and  other  purposes.  The  other  pipe, 
in  the  mean  time,  is  kept  empty  until 
the  former  requires  to  be  cleansed, 
when  the  water  is  let  into  it  and  con- 
tinues to  be  used  till  the  cleansing  is 
finished.  As  the  water  is  necessarily 
carried  over  bridges  on  account  of  the 
salt  water  crossing  its  route,  reser- 
voirs resembling  canals  are  construct- 
ed on  the  bridges,  through  which  the 
fresh  water  is  conveyed.  These  re- 
servoirs are  of  the  breadth  of  the 
body  of  an  ox,  and  of  the  same  length 
as  the  bridges.  The  whole  city  is 
thus  served  with  water,  which  they 
carry  in  canoes  through  all  the  streets 
for  sale,  taking  it  from  the  aqueduct 
in  the  following  manner :  the  canoes 
pass  under  the  bridges  on  which  the 
reservoirs  are  placed,  when  men  sta- 
tioned above  fill  them  with  water,  for 
which  service  they  are  paid. 
See  below,  pp.  118-9. 


This  is  a  paraphrase  rather  thaffi  a  translation,  and  leaves  room  for 
a  new  French  version,  which  it  is 'understood  a  distinguished  author 
at  Paris  will  shortly  publish. 


VI  PREFACE. 

In  this  connexion  it  is  proper  that  we  should  notice  a  translation 
of  the  Second  Letter,  made  with  great  fidelity  from  the  French  of 
Vicomte  Flavigny,  and  published  in  the  Portfolio,  (a  well  known 
magazine,  formerly  printed  at  Philadelphia,)  in  1817-18.  The  editor 
informs  his  readers  that  this  paper  was  found  amongst  the  manu- 
scripts of  the  late  Mr.  Alsop,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  who  seems  not 
to  have  been  in  possession  of  a  copy  of  the  original  work.  This 
gentleman,  besides  numerous  other  contributions  to  the  literature  of 
the  day,  published  an  excellent  translation  of  the  Abbe  Molina's  His- 
tory of  Chili,  from  the  Italian. 

The  Vicomte  Flavigny  states  in  his  preface,  that  he  had  not  only 
taken  no  pains  to  acquire  new  information  respecting  the  conquest  of 
Mexico,  but,  on  the  contrary,  had  endeavored  to  forget  the  little 
knowledge  he  had  on  that  subject ;  "  for,"  he  adds,  "  it  was  not  Solis, 
Herrera,  Diaz,  or  Gomara,  that  I  designed  to  translate,  nor  did  I 
propose  to  imitate  the  Abbe  Prevost,  the  Abbe  Raynal,  or  even  Rob- 
ertson." We  have  ventured,  however,  to  adopt  a  different  course,  and 
although  determined  to  give  a  faithful  version  of  the  conqueror's  own 
language,  have  at  the  same  time  consulted  every  writer  within  our 
reach  who  throws  any  light  on  the  events  of  the  conquest.  Amongst 
these  should  be  distinguished  as  surpassing  all  others,  being  contem- 
porary with  Cortes,  Bernal  Diaz  del  Castillo  and  Francisco  Lopez  de 
Gomara  ;  the  former  himself  a  soldier  in  the  expedition,  who  resided 
in  his  old  age  at  the  city  of  Guatemala,  where,  nearly  fifty  years  after 
the  conquest,  he  composed  his  history,  which  was  discovered  in  manu- 
script after  his  death,  and  printed  for  the  first  time  in  1632.  This 
work  is  tinged  with  the  personal  prejudices  of  the  writer,  but  in  the 
main  deserves  great  credit  for  its  frank  and  impartial  character. 
Having  been  early  translated  into  English,  it  has  passed  through 
many  editions,  both  in  England  and  America.* 

Gomara,  whose  Chronicle  of  New  Spain  was  published  a  few  years 
after  the  death  of  Cortes,  had  been  the  chaplain  of  the  conqueror, 
and  enjoyed  the  best  opportunities  for  collecting  the  materials  of  his 
work.  It  was  well  written,  and  for  many  years  ranked  as  the  ablest 
and  most  authentic  book  on  the  history  of  New  Spain.  But  the  sub- 
sequent appearance  of  the  "  True  History"  of  Bernal  Diaz,  (who 

*  Gen.  Thompson,  the  present  U.  S.  Minister  at  Mexico,  is  understood  to  have 
in  hand  a  new  translation  of  Bernal  Diaz,  the  present  one  being  quite  incom- 


PREFACE-  Vll 

charged  him  with  neglecting  the  achievements  of  the  companions  of 
Cortes  in  order  to  exalt  the  merits  of  their  commander,)  together 
with  the  imputations  of  Herrera,  the  royal  historiographer,  and 
finally,  the  publication  of  the  popular  volumes  of  Antonio  de  Solis, 
threw  Gomara  into  the  shade,  and  caused  his  labors  to  be  neglected. 
But  whoever  consults  his  pages  will  find  them  well  stored  with  facts, 
carefully  arranged  and  clearly  stated.  In  short,  it  is  an  able  and 
substantial  work,  and  possesses  as  strong  claims  to  be  deemed  impar- 
tial in  its  tone  as  any  other,  not  excepting  Herrera  himself.* 

It  would  be  unpardonable  to  omit  to  mention  in  this  connexion  the 
admirable  modern  work  of  Clavigero,  a  Jesuit  father,  who  on  the  abo- 
lition of  his  order  in  the  Spanish  dominions,  after  passing  more  than 
forty  years  of  his  life  in  Mexico,  took  refuge  in  Italy,  where  he  de- 
voted his  leisure  to  literary  pursuits.  Being  familiar  with  the  native 
language  of  Mexico,  he  carefully  studied  its  antiquities  and  history, 
and  composed  the  best  and  most  authentic  book  on  these  subjects 
that  had  appeared.  It  was  written  in  the  Italian  language,  and  has 
been  ably  translated  into  English  by  Charles  Cullen,  Esq. 

The  Despatches  of  Cortes  were  written  under  circumstances  the 
most  unfavorable  to  precision  of  style,  and  at  a  period  when  the  lan- 
guages of  modern  Europe  were  far  from  being  what  they  now  are  ; 
for  these  reasons  it  is  not  to  be  disguised,  that  they  have  presented 
occasional  difficulties  in  the  translation,  which,  with  all  our  helps,  it 
has  required  a  considerable  degree  of  labor  to  surmount.  This  at- 
tempt is,  therefore,  commended  to  the  indulgence  of  the  public,  as  a 
well-meant  effort  to  contribute  to  the  amusement  and  edification  of 
those  English  and  American  readers  who  have  not  the  leisure  or  in- 
clination to  consult  the  original. 

New-  York,  August  1st,  1843. 

*  There  is  an  imperfect  English  translation  of  Gomara  under  the  title  of 
"  The  Pleasante  Historie  of  the  Conquest  of  the  West  India,"  &c,  of  which  two 
editions  were  published  in  black  letter,  viz.  1578  and  1596.  Many  entire  chap- 
ters of  the  original  are,  however,  omitted,  and  numerous  alterations  made  ad 
libitum  by  the  translator. 


CONTENTS 


Introduction 


LETTER  II. 

CHAPTER  I.  Commencement  of  march  to  Mexico — Muteczuma — 
conspiracy — stranding  of  ships — F.  de  Garay — city  of 
Cempoal — populous    valley — wall  of  Tlascala,         -      37 

CHAPTER  II.  Battle  with  the  Tlascallans — continued  fighting— inter- 
view between  Cortes  and  the  rulers  of  Tlascala — 
description  of  the  city  of  Tlascala — government  of  this 
republic — deputation  from  Muteczuma — city  of  Churul- 
tecal  (Cholula) — narrow  escape  of  the  army,    -  -51 

CHAPTER IV.*  Treachery  of  Muteczuma— description  of  two  lofty 
mountains — the  Spaniards  descry  the  city  and  valley 
of  Mexico — province  of  Chalco — envoys  of  Muteczuma 
— slaves — lakes  of  Mexico — city  of  Iztapalapa — gardens 
— causeway — Cortes  is  met  by  large  numbers  of  citi- 
zens, followed  by  Muteczuma — interview  between 
Cortes  and  Muteczuma — address  of  the  latter — entrance 
into  the  city — letters  from  Vera  Cruz — treachery  of 
Qualpopoca — imprisonment  of  Muteczuma— execution 
of  Qualpopoca  and  others — exploring  parties — lord  of 
Culhuacan — Cacamacin — inquiries  for  gold,      -  -      73 

CHAPTER  V.  Description  of  the  city  of  Mexico— the  lakes— markets- 
aqueduct — temples — palaces — houses — mode  of  living 
— state  assumed  by  Muteczuma,  ...    HO 

CHAPTER  VI.  Expedition  of  Panfilo  de  Narvaez  against  Cortes— pro- 
ceedings of  Diego  Velasquez  at  Cuba — Cortes  leaves 
the  city  to  meet  Narvaez — enters  Cempoal — battle 
between  the  forces  of  Cortes  and  Narvaez  in  that  city 
— defeat  of  the  latter — detachment  sent  to  build  a  town 
at  Guasacalco,       ......    126 


*  The  head  of  the  third  chapter  was  accidentally  omitted  in  the  printing. 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII.  Return  of  Cortes  to  Mexico— news  of  rebellion  in  that 
city — he  enters  Mexico — hostilities  against  the  Spa- 
niards— attacks  on  their  quarters — destruction  of  parts 
of  the  city — death  of  Muteczuma—  assault  upon  the 
great  temple — Cortes  at  the  head  of  a  detachment — 
ascends  a  lofty  tower — battle  on  the  terraces  of  the 
tower  or  temple — a  parley  with  the  enemy — their 
resolution  and  spirit — the  Spaniards  abandon  the  city 
— la  noche  triste — disastrous  retreat — Tacuba — route  to 
Tlascala — battle  of  Otumba — the  army  enters  the 
territory  of  Tlascala— met  by  the  nobles — kind  recep- 
tion— news  from  Vera  Cruz,       ....    145 

CHAPTER  VIII.  Hostilities  against  Tepeaca— settlement  of  the  town  of 
Segura  de  la  Frontera— attack  on  Mexican  garrison 
at  Guacachula — description  of  that  city — capture  of  the 
city  of  Izucan — description  of  that  city — news  from 
Mexico— building  of  brigantines  for  the  lakes  of  Mexico 
— successor  of  Muteczuma — New  Spain — note,  -    170 

LETTER  III. 

CHAPTER  I.  Recapitulation  of  former  letter— F.  de  Garay— Cortes 
leaves  Segura  de  la  Frontera — arrives  at  city  of  Tlascal- 
tecal  or  Tlascala — death  of  Magiscacin — review  of  the 
army — address  of  Cortes  to  the  troops — march  for  Mexico 
— city  of  Tesaico  (Tezcuco)— deputation  from  that  city 
— expedition  to  Iztapalapa — circumstances  at  Tezcuco 
— Sandoval  sent  for  the  brigantines — Chalco — trans- 
portation of  the  brigantines  from  Tlascala  to  Tezcuco,       195 

CHAPTER  II.  Expedition  from  Tezcuco  to  Tacuba — engagements  with 
the  Mexicans — battle  between  the  people  of  Chalco  and 
the  Mexicans — succors  received  from  Vera  Cruz — expe- 
dition to  the  mountainous  country — city  of  Suchimilco 
— battle  with  the  Mexicans  at  that  city — city  of  Cuyoa- 
can — Tacuba— return  to  Tezcuco — plantations  at  Chi- 
nantla — letter  from  that  place— launch  of  the  brigantines 
— their  removal  to  the  great  lake,  ...    226 

CHAPTER  III.  Review  of  the  army — disposition  of  the  troops  for  the 
siege  of  Mexico — destruction  of  the  aqueduct — positions 
of  the  divisions  of  the  army — Cortes  embarks  in  a  brig- 
antine — battle  between  the  brigantines  and  the  canoes 
— commencement  of  operations  against  Mexico — Don 
Fernando,  lord  of  Tezcuco — arrival  of  the  Otomites,     -    257 

CHAPTER  IV.  Destruction  of  the  palaces— burning  of  the  houses  of  the 
city — continued  hostilities— partial  defeat  of  Alvarado's 
division — attempt  to  reach  the  market  place — narrow 
escape  of  Cortes — defeat  of  the  Spaniards — rejoicings 


CONTENTS.  XI 

of  the  Mexicans— expedition  to  Marinalco— gallant  ex- 
ploit of  a  Tlascallan  chief,  ...  -    278 

CHAPTER  V.  Sandoval  sent  to  the  aid  of  the  Otomites — Alvarado's 
camp  attacked  by  the  Mexicans  in  the  night — obstinacy 
of  the  Mexicans — successive  attacks  on  the  city — Alva- 
rado  penetrates  to  the  market  place — the  divisions  of 
Cortes  and  Alvarado  meet  at  the  market-place — descrip- 
tion of  the  square  and  temples — a  battering  engine — the 
Mexicans  reduced  to  great  extremities — Cortes  seeks 
an  interview  with  Gautimotzin — conferences  with  the 
Mexican  leaders — great  havoc  amongst  the  citizens — 
their  necessitous  condition — capture  of  Guatimotzin — 
fall  of  the  city — Plan  of  the  city  and  lakes,       -  -    330 

CHAPTER  VI.  Cortes  removes  his  quarters  to  Cuyoacan— deputation 
from  the  lord  of  Mechuacan—  expeditions  to  the  South 
Sea — toOaxaca — rebuildingof  Mexico — Tecoantepeque 
— the  river  Panuco— arrival  of  Cristobal  de  Tapia  to 
supersede  Cortes — measures  taken  in  regard  to  him— 
his  departure — exhibition  to  Guaxaca — treachery  and 
punishment  of  Antonio  de  Villafana — ascent  of  the  vol- 
cano Popocatepetl — suggestions  in  respect  to  the  In- 
dians,       -------    335 

LETTER  IV. 

CHAPTER  I.  Expedition  to  Guasacalco — to  Mechuacan — Zacatula— Co- 
liman — revolt  of  the  Panucans — arrival  of  Juan  Bono 
de  Quejo  from  Cuba — an  emissary  of  bishop  Fonseca 
and  Velasquez — consequences  of  his  coming,   -  -    359 

CHAPTER  II.  Confederacy  against  Cortes,  composed  of  Diego  Colum- 
bus, &c. — Cortes  marches  with  a  force  to  the  Panuco — 
settles  the  town  of  Santistevan  del  Puerto — expedition 
to  Impilcingo — arrival  of  Spaniards  from  Gautemala — 
Cristobal  Dolid  sent  to  Honduras,  ...    371 

CHAPTER  III.  Arrival  of  F.  de  Garay  with  a  large  force  at  the  river 
Panuco — Diego  Velasquez  concerned  with  him — 
Cortes  resolves  to  go  and  meet  him — letters  from  the 
king  render  it  unnecessary — Alvarado  sent  against 
him — operations  on  the  Panuco — visit  of  F.  de  Garay 
to  Cortes — projected  intermarriage  of  their  children — 
another  rebellion  in  Panuco — execution  of  the  principal 
persons  amongst  the  natives — expedition  to  Honduras 
— to  Guatemala — the  Zaputecas — ships  built  in  South 
Sea, 383 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V.  Rebuilding  of  Mexico — Mexican  nobles  employed  to 
superintend  it — erection  of  a  fortress — complaints  of 
bishop  Fonseca — discovery  of  tin — cannon  founded — 
new  town  settled  near  Vera  Cruz— improvement  of  the 
route  to  Mexico,   ------    408 

CHAPTER  VI.  Expeditions  for  the  discovery  of  the  strait  to  the  South 
Sea — commissioners  from  Spain — loss  of  presents  sent 
to  the  emperor — a  cannon  of  silver — treachery  of 
Cristobal  Dolid  in  Honduras — plans  for  the  religious 
institutions  of  the  country — objections  to  bishops — erec- 
tion of  churches— the  tenths — offensive  regulations  of 
trade  in  Cuba— agriculture — ordinances  and  laws,        -    417 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  conquest  of  Mexico  by  Hernando  Cortes,  at  the  head 
of  a  few  hundred  Spaniards,  forms  one  of  those  romantic  epi- 
sodes in  history  that,  give  color  to  the  saying,  that  "truth  is 
stranger  than  fiction."  Whether  we  regard  the  temerity  of  the 
undertaking,  of  which  a  signal  example  is  afForded  in  the  vo- 
luntary destruction  of  the  ships  that  had  conveyed  the  conque- 
rors to  the  Mexican  coast,  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  off  all 
hope  of  retreat ;  or  the  chivalric  spirit  with  which  they  met  the 
perils  that  surrounded  them  at  every  step  of  their  progress, 
or  the  brilliant  results  that  finally  crowned  their  exertions, 
this  enterprise  in  point  of  strange  and  wonderful  adventure, 
and  we  may  add  of  high  military  achievement,  is  wholly  with- 
out a  parallel  in  ancient  or  modern  times.  Like  all  conquests 
in  war,  it  was  doubtless  stained  by  acts  of  gross  injustice  and 
cruelty  towards  the  conquered,  for  which  no  substantial  justi- 
fication can  be  alleged.  Some  palliation  may  be  sought,  how- 
ever, in  the  spirit  of  the  age,  which  not  only  excused  but  com- 
mended the  summary  destruction  of  the  enemies  of  the  Chris- 
tian faith  wherever  they  might  be  found.  This  spirit  formed  a 
deep  infusion  in  the  character  of  the  Spanish  hidalgos  who 
were  engaged  in  the  discovery  of  the  Indies,  (as  the  New  World 
was  then  styled,)  of  which  Columbus  himself  was  a  memorable 
example  ;  and  the  reader  of  the  following  despatches  from  the 
conqueror  of  Mexico  to  his  sovereign,  will  be  struck  by  the 
religious  feeling  every  where  displayed,  which  gives  to  his  ex- 
pedition quite  as  much  the  air  of  a  crusade  against  infidel 
pagans,  as  of  an  attempt  to  enlarge  the  dominions  and  increase 
the  wealth  of  his  Catholic  Majesty.  The  sincerity  of  Cortes  in 
these  professions  of  zeal  for  the  spread  of  the  "  true  faith,"  is 

1 


2  INTRODUCTION. 

fully  attested  by  the  boldness  with  which  he  attacked  and  sub- 
verted the  idolatrous  practices  of  the  Mexicans,  often  under 
circumstances  of  great  risk  and  danger.  He  never  temporized 
with  the  superstitions  of  the  natives,  and  the  conquest  effected 
as  complete  a  revolution  in  the  religious  as  the  civil  institutions 
of  the  country.  Every  vestige  of  the  ancient  idolatry  was  care- 
fully erased,  and  the  entire  population  of  the  country  brought, 
nominally  at  least,  into  the  Christian  fold.*  Thus  carrying  the 
emblem  of  the  cross  in  one  hand,  and  the  sword  in  the  other, 
Cortes  punished  (as  he  expressed  it)  with  the  utmost  rigor  all 
who  refused  to  recognize  him  in  the  double  capacity  of  propa- 
gator of  the  Catholic  faith,  and  vicegerent  of  the  lawful  sove- 
reign of  those  parts-  But  it  must  be  admitted  that,  in  general, 
his  treatment  of  the  Indians  was  mild  and  conciliatory,  as 
abundantly  appears  in  the  following  pages,  which  are  uncon- 
tradicted by  contemporaneous  accounts  of  the  highest  authority. 

The  expedition  against  Mexico  was  undertaken  the  year  fol- 
lowing the  election  of  Charles  V.  as  emperor  of  Germany,  and 
the  third  of  his  reign  as  king  of  Spain.  It  was  the  first  auspi- 
cious event  of  any  magnitude  in  the  distinguished  career  of 
that  monarch,  who  came  to  the  throne  under  circumstances  of 
much  embarrassment  and  difficulty.  Although  but  seventeen 
years  of  age,  his  vigorous  and  enterprising  qualities  were  soon 
developed,  and  exercised  a  favorable  influence  on  the  spirit  of 
discovery  in  the  new  world.  Under  this  influence,  says  De 
Solis,  the  minds  of  men  became  disposed  to  great  undertak- 
ings ;  greater  ardor  was  infused  into  the  breasts  of  the  soldiers, 
and  those  preliminary  operations  took  place  that  led  the  way  to 
the  conquest  of  New  Spain,  an  event  destined  by  Heaven  to 
shed  lustre  on  the  commencement  of  the  reign  of  that  august 
monarch.t 

Great  disappointment  had  followed  the  discovery  of  the  New 
World  in  the  preceding  reign  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella.    The 

*  Peter  of  Ghent,  writing  from  Mexico  in  1529,  states  that  another  priest  and 
himself  had  baptized  in  the  province  of  Mexico  more  than  200,000  persons ; 
and  often  eight,  and  sometimes  even  ten  or  fourteen,  thousand  in  a  day.  Ter- 
naux.    Voyages,  etc. 

t  *  *  *  "  Nueva  Espafia,  cuyo  imperio  tenia  el  cielo  destinado  para  engran- 
decer  los  principios  de  este  augusto  Monarca."     Conquista  de  Mejico.  Cap.  V. 


INTRODUCTION.  6 

pursuit  of  wealth,  which  was  the  grand  stimulus  to  enterprise 
in  that  day  as  well  as  the  present,  had  not  been  attended  with 
the  promised  success,  and  instead  of  countries  abounding  in 
the  precious  metals,  and  producing  the  drugs  and  spices  of  the 
east,  a  few  comparatively  unimportant  islands  and  a  barren 
coast  were  all  that  had  yet  rewarded  the  toils  of  the  adven- 
turers. The  proceeds  of  the  voyages  had  been  scarcely  adequate 
to  meet  the  expenses  of  their  outfits.  The  hopes  of  Columbus, 
it  is  well  known,  were  centered  in  the  idea  that  his  discoveries 
constituted  a  part  of  the  Indies,  then  the  fancied  seat  of  un- 
bounded riches,  and  his  last  voyage  was  undertaken  for  the 
single  purpose  of  seeking  along  the  coast  of  the  Caribbean 
sea  the  strait  which  he  imagined  formed  the  communica- 
tion between  them.  It  is  a  curious  fact,  that  he  took  with  him 
two  or  three  persons  skilled  in  the  Arabic  language  to  serve  as 
interpreters  in  the  Mahometan  countries,  which  he  then  expect- 
ed to  reach.  In  the  course  of  this  voyage,  performed  in  the 
years  1502-4,  the  veteran  navigator  examined  the  coast  of  Cen- 
tral America  from  the  Bay  of  Honduras  to  the  Spanish  Main  ; 
and  although  on  the  borders  of  countries  far  richer  in  the  pre- 
cious metals  than  those  he  sought,  of  which  several  striking 
indications  were  presented  to  him,  all  was  lost  sight  of  in  the 
vain  pursuit  of  the  desired  strait. 

It  was  during  the  early  part  of  this  disastrous  voyage,  that 
the  first  glimpses  were  obtained  of  the  superior  civilization  and 
wealth  of  Mexico.  Leaving  the  island  of  St.  Domingo  for  the 
south-west,  Columbus  was  borne  by  the  currents  out  of  his 
course,  and  fell  in  with  a  group  of  islands  near  Cape  Honduras 
on  the  upper  coast  of  Guatemala.  While  examining  the 
largest  of  these  islands,  a  party  from  the  squadron  discovered  a 
canoe  of  unusual  size  apparently  arriving  from  some  distant 
point,  which  was  immediately  captured  and  taken  along  side 
the  Admiral's  ship.  It  is  described  by  Fernando  Columbus, 
the  Admiral's  son,  who  accompanied  the  expedition,  as  "  eight 
feet  wide  and  as  long  as  a  galley,  though  formed  of  the  trunk 
of  a  single  tree,  and  shaped  like  those  common  in  the  islands. 
In  the  middle  of  the  canoe  there  was  an  awning  made  of  palm 
leaves,  not  unlike  those  of  the  Venitian  gondolas,  which  formed 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

so  close  a  covering  as  to  protect  whatever  it  contained  against 
the  effects  of  rain  and  the  waves  ;  under  this  awning  were  the 
women  and  children,  and  all  the  goods  and  merchandise.  The 
canoe  was  under  the  direction  of  twenty-five  men.  *  *  * 
The  Admiral  gave  thanks  to  God  for  having  afforded  him  sam- 
ples of  the  commodities  of  those  countries  without  exposing 
his  men  to  toil  or  danger.  He  ordered  such  things  to  be  taken 
as  seemed  the  most  valuable,  amongst  which  were  cotton  coverlets 
and  tunics  without  sleeves,  curiously  worked  and  dyed  of  va- 
rious colours ;  coverings  for  the  loins  of  similar  material ; 
large  mantles,  in  which  the  female  Indians  wrapped  themselves 
like  the  Moorish  women  of  Granada  ;  long  wooden  swords  with 
channels  on  each  side  of  the  blade,  edged  with  sharp  flints  that 
cut  the  naked  body  as  well  as  steel ;  copper  hatchets  for  cutting 
wood,  similar  in  form  to  the  stone  hatchets  of  other  Indians  ; 
bells  of  the  same  metal,  and  crucibles  in  which  to  melt  it.  For 
provisions  they  had  such  roots  and  grains  as  the  natives  of 
Hispaniola  eat ;  a  sort  of  wine  made  of  maize,  resembling 
English  beer ;  great  quantities  of  almonds,  of  the  kind  used 
by  the  people  of  New  Spain  for  money,"  &c*  The  Spaniards 
were  also  struck  with  the  personal  modesty  of  these  Indians, 
in  which  they  greatly  excelled  the  natives  of  the  islands.  The 
Admiral  restored  their  canoe,  and  gave  them  some  European 
articles  in  exchange  for  those  he  had  taken.  He  then  allowed 
them  all  to  depart  except  one  old  man,  who  seemed  to  possess 
greater  authority  than  the  rest,  and  to  be  the  most  intelligent 
person  amongst  them  ;  from  him  Columbus  endeavored  to  ob- 
tain some  information  about  the  country,  and  finding  that  he 
understood  the  language  spoken  by  the  natives  along  the  coast 
of  Honduras  as  far  as  the  Cape  Gracias  a  Dios,  he  made 
use  of  him  in   his  endeavors  to   hold  intercourse  and  traffic 


*  The  roots  referred  to  were  probably  the  mandioc,  from  which  the  cassava 
bread  is  made,  and  the  yam  or  igname.  A  beverage  composed  of  maize,  water 
and  sugar,  is  still  common  amongst  the  native  Mexicans,  under  the  name  of  atole. 
The  fruit  described  under  the  name  of  "almonds,"  was  the  cacao  bean,  which 
closely  resembles  the  almond  in  size  and  shape,  and  was  used  by  the  Mexi- 
cans for  money,  as  well  as  for  making  chocolate. 


I N TROD  UCTION  .  O 

with  them.     On  arriving  at  that  Cape,  he  dismissed  him  with 
presents. 

To  this  account  Don  Fernando  adds,  that  "  although  the 
Admiral  had  heard  so  much  from  these  Indians  concerning  the 
great  wealth,  politeness  and  ingenuity  of  the  people  in  the 
western  parts  of  (what  was  afterwards  called)  New  Spain,  yet 
considering  that,  as  these  countries  lay  to  leewards,  he  could 
sail  thither  whenever  he  might  think  fit  from  Cuba,  he  deter- 
mined to  leave  them  for  another  occasion,  and  persisted  in  his 
design  of  endeavoring  to  discover  the  strait  across  the  continent, 
by  which  he  might  open  the  navigation  of  the  south  sea  in 
order  to  arrive  at  the  spice  countries."*  It  is  well  remarked  by 
Mr.  Irving,  that  it  would  have  been  fortunate  for  the  venerable 
navigator  had  he  come  to  a  different  determination.  "  Within 
a  day  or  two,"  says  that  brilliant  writer,  "  he  would  have  ar- 
rived at  Yucatan  ;  the  discovery  of  Mexico  and  the  other  opu- 
lent countries  of  New  Spain,  would  have  necessarily  followed  ; 
the  southern  ocean  would  have  been  disclosed  to  him,  and  a 
succession  of  splendid  discoveries  would  have  shed  fresh  glory 
on  his  declining  age,  instead  of  its  sinking  amidst  gloom, 
neglect,  and  disappointment." 

Two  distinguished  navigators  endeavored  to  make  amends 
for  this  omission  of  the  Admiral,  and  in  1506,  two  years  after 
his  return  from  that  voyage,  undertook  to  follow  in  his  track  as 
far  as  Cape  Honduras,  with  the  intention  of  steering  from  that 
point  to  the  shores  of  the  rich  and  unknown  countries  described 
by  the  Indians  as  lying  to  the  west.  These  were  Juan  Diaz 
de  Solis,  afterwards  the  discoverer  of  the  Rio  La  Plata,  and 
Vicente  Yariez  de  Pinzon,  who  commanded  a  ship  in  the  first 
expedition  of  Columbus  to  the  new  world.  They  succeeded  in 
reaching  Cape  Honduras,  by  the  aid  of  one  of  the  Admiral's 
men  who  acted  as  their  pilot ;  but  on  taking  a  westerly  course 
soon  found  themselves  in  the  bottom  of  a  great  bay,  now  known 
as  the  Bay  of  Honduras,  with  no  indications  of  the  rich  coun- 

*We  have  preferred  to  take  the  above  account  literally  from  the  Spanish 
edition  of  Don  Fernando's  biography  of  his  father,  as  more  satisfactory  than  the 
embellished  narratives  of  succeeding  writers,  who  are  indebted  to  that  source  for 
the  facts. 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

tries  of  which  they  were  in  pursuit ;  returning  thence  they  dis- 
covered the  east  side  of  the  peninsula  of  Yucatan,  but  without 
exploring  the  coast,  or  ascertaining  the  character  of  the  inhab- 
itants. The  discovery  of  Yucatan  must,  however,  be  ascribed 
to  these  bold  navigators,  although  unsuccessful  in  the  great 
object  of  their  voyage.* 

No  account  is  found  of  any  subsequent  voyages  in  the  same 
direction  until  the  year  1517,  when  an  expedition  for  discovery 
was  fitted  out  from  the  island  of  Cuba,  under  the  command  of 
Francisco  Hernandez  de  Cordova,  consisting  of  three  small 
vessels,  carrying  110  men,  who  were  enlisted  amongst  the  Spa- 
nish adventurers  in  the  islands.  Antonio  Alaminos,  who  had 
accompanied  Columbus  in  his  last  voyage,  acted  as  chief  pilot. 
Taking  a  westerly  course,  after  some  days  they  arrived  on  the 
eastern  coast  of  Yucatan,  and  gave  the  name  of  Catoche  to  a 
point  of  land,  which  it  still  bears.t  Here  they  discovered  a 
large  town,  and  were  visited  by  the  inhabitants,  who  invited 
them  on  shore  ;  but  the  appearance  of  kindness  proved  to  be 
insincere,  for  they  were  attacked  by  an  armed  force,  with  which 
they  had  a  sharp  engagement.  The  enemy  were  at  length  de- 
feated with  considerable  loss,  and  on  the  part  of  the  Spaniards 
several  were  wounded.  The  natives  were  armed  with  wooden 
swords  having  edges  of  flint,  darts,  bows  and  arrows,  and  wore 
plumes  of  feathers,  a  defensive  armor  of  quilted  cotton,  and 
bucklers.  Near  the  place  where  the  encounter  happened,  there 
were  three  buildings  constructed  of  stone  and  lime,  containing 
idols  of  clay  and  various  articles  formed  of  alloyed  gold, 
"  which,"  says   Bernal  Diaz,  "  gave  us  a  high  idea  of  the 

*  Herrera  has  a  short  account  of  this  voyage  under  the  year  assigned  to  it 
ahove  ;  but  even  this  short  account  is  abridged  one  half  by  the  English  transla- 
tor. Historia  General,  etc.  Dec.  I.  J.  vi.  c.  17.  Holmes  confounds  this  voyage 
with  that  in  which  Solis  discovered  the  La  Plata,  ten  years  later.  American 
Annals.  A.  D.  1516.  Fernando  Columbus  complains  that  Solis  and  Pinzon 
pretended  to  be  the  first  discoverers  of  the  coast  of  Honduras,  with  manifest  in- 
justice to  the  Admiral,  claiming  that  he  had  visited  another  part  of  the  continent, 
in  consequence  of  which  the  same  places  were  twice  laid  down  in  the  charts. 
He  refers  their  voyage  to  the  year  1508.    Historia  del  Almirante.  cap.  89. 

t  It  seems,  however,  that  there  is  some  doubt  as  to  the  precise  locality  of 
Cape  Catoche  ;  there  being  several  points  of  land  on  that  coast  which  claim  the 
diitinction.    See  Stephens's  Incidents  of  Travel  in  Yucatan.  II.  p.  356. 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

country  we  had  discovered."  No  similar  edifices  had  been 
previously  seen  in  the  new  world,  nor  equal  marks  of  civili- 
zation in  other  respects.  Keeping  in  sight  of  the  coast,  the 
expedition  continued  its  course  to  the  north-west,  until  they 
arrived  at  Campeachy,  where  they  were  hospitably  received  by 
the  natives,  although  finally  admonished  that  they  must  leave 
the  country.  Here  they  saw  also  temples  of  stone  with  idols, 
and  persons  habited  in  long  white  mantles,  with  vessels  in  their 
hands  containing  burning  coals,  into  which  they  cast  a  species  of 
gum  and  thus  perfumed  the  Spaniards,  at  the  same  time  bidding 
them  depart  the  country.  A  few  leagues  farther  west  they  en- 
tered the  river  Champoton,  on  which  was  situated  a  large  vil- 
lage called  Potonchan,  containing  houses  of  stone  and  lime, 
and  surrounded  by  fields  of  maize.  Here  they  landed  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  in  water  and  cultivating  the  acquaintance  of 
the  people  ;  but  whilst  engaged  in  filling  their  casks  from  a 
spring,  they  were  attacked  by  a  large  body  of  the  natives,  and 
compelled  to  retreat  to  their  boats  with  a  heavy  loss,  forty'seven 
of  their  number  being  killed,  and  all  the  rest  but  one  wounded; 
two  men  were  taken  prisoners,  and  five  more  died  of  their 
wounds  on  board  of  the  ships.  By  the  advice  of  the  pilot  the 
expedition  now  stood  over  for  Florida,  where  they  arrived  in 
four  days  ;  here  they  landed  near  a  creek,  and  took  in  water  ; 
but  Alaminos,  who  had  visited  the  place  before  in  company 
with  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon,*  cautioned  his  companions  to  be  on 
their  guard  against  the  natives,  who  soon  made  their  appear- 
ance and  drove  them  with  some  loss  to  their  ships.  They  now 
returned  to  Cuba,  where  Cordova  died  in  a  few  days  from  the 
effects  of  his  wounds. 

When  the  governor  of  Cuba,  Diego  Velasquez,  saw  the  orna- 
ments of  gold  and  other  articles  taken  from  the  temples  of 
Yucatan,  and  two  young  men  in  the  costume  of  the  country,  all 
indicating  greater  wealth  and  cultivation  than  had  been  observed 
in  any  other  part  of  the  new  world,  his  expectations  were  high- 
ly excited,  and  notwithstanding  the  disasters  that  had  attended 
Cordova,  another  expedition  was  at  once  set  on  foot.  The 
fame  of  the  discovery  soon  spread  abroad,  with  exaggerated 

*  The  famous  adventurer  who  discovered  Florida  in  1512. 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

accounts  of  the  riches  of  the  country,  and  little  difficulty  was 
experienced  in  enlisting  a  sufficient  force  for  protection  against 
the  Indians.  The  armament  consisted  of  four  ships,  command- 
ed respectively  by  Juan  de  Grijalva,  (in  chief,)  Pedro  de  Al- 
varado,  Francisco  de  Montejo,  and  Alonzo  de  Avila,  all  persons 
of  note,  and  possessed  of  estates  in  the  islands.  Alaminos 
again  acted  as  chief  pilot,  and  about  two  hundred  and  forty 
volunteers  joined  the  expedition,  which  sailed  from  St.  Jago  de 
Cuba,  on  the  eighth  of  April,  1518.  It  is  not  our  intention  to 
attempt  a  description  of  this  enterprise  ;  it  is  sufficient  for 
our  purpose  to  state  that  after  discovering  the  island  of  Cozu- 
mel,  (which  he  named  Santa  Cruz,)  on  the  southern  coast  of 
Yucatan,  Grijalva  followed  in  the  track  of  Cordova,  landed  at 
Potonchan,  where  he  routed  the  Indians  in  a  pitched  battle,  re- 
embarked  and  pursued  his  way  along  the  coast,  near  enough  to 
see  and  admire  the  villages,  in  which  could  be  distinguished 
houses  of  stone,  that  appeared  white  and  lofty  in  the  distance  ; 
recalling  to  the  minds  of  the  Spaniards  their  native  land,  to 
which  they  fancied  the  country  bore  a  striking  resemblance,  and 
inducing  them  to  name  it  New  Spain.  Touching  at  Tabasco, 
Guaxaca,  and  the  island  of  S.  Juan  de  Ulua,  they  proceeded 
along  the  coast  as  far  as  the  river  Panuco,  where  the  present 
town  of  Tampico  is  situated.  From  S.  Juan  de  Ulua,  Grijal- 
va despatched  Alvarado  to  Cuba,  with  an  account  of  his  im- 
portant discoveries,  and  all  the  treasure  he  had  acquired.  Soon 
after  the  rest  of  the  expedition  also  returned,  and  arrived 
safely  at  St.  Jago  de  Cuba,  having  been  absent  about  six 
months. 

This,  says  a  distinguished  modern  historian,*  was  the  most 
successful  voyage  which  the  Spaniards  had  hitherto  made  in 
the  New  World.     They  had  discovered  that  Yucatan  was  not 

*  Robertson.  Hist.  Am.  Bernal  Diaz  accompanied  this  expedition,  and  has 
given  an  interesting  account  of  it.  The  chaplain  Juan  Diaz,  who  afterwards 
attended  Cortes,  wrote  a  brief  "  Itinerary"  of  the  voyage,  published  in  1522, 
which  has  been  recently  disinterred  and  inserted  in  the  valuable  collection  of 
M.  Ternaux.  Gomara  gives  a  curious  list  of  the  articles  obtained  from  the  In- 
dians, and  of  the  merchandise  exchanged  for  them.  Amongst  the  former  were 
idols,  cups,  salt-cellars,  ear-rings,  necklaces,  chains,  &c,  all  of  gold ;  forty 
hatchets  of  gold  mixed  with  copper,  razors  of  flint-stone,  used  in  sacrifice,  chiefly 
obtained  at  Tabasco. 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

an  island  as  they  had  supposed,  but  part  of  the  great  continent 
of  America.  From  Potonchan  they  had  pursued  their  course 
for  many  hundred  miles  along  a  coast  previously  unexplored,  the 
country  appearing  to  be  no  less  valuable  than  extensive.  As 
soon  as  Alvarado  arrived  with  the  important  intelligence,  Velas- 
quez at  once  despatched  his  chaplain  to  Spain,  to  obtain  the 
requisite  authority  for  conquering  and  settling  the  newly  dis- 
covered lands.  Before  the  return  of  this  messenger  the  governor 
took  immediate  steps  for  equipping  a  powerful  armament,  ade- 
quate to  the  great  objects  he  had  in  view.  Dissatisfied  with 
Grijalva  for  not  having  effected  a  settlement,  Velasquez  deter- 
mined to  appoint  another  person  commander  of  the  present  ex- 
pedition, who  should  more  successfully  carry  out  his  own  plans. 
This  intentional  act  of  injustice  towards  one  who  had  just 
given  such  decided  proofs  of  his  prudence  and  efficiency  in 
command,  led  to  a  retribution  in  the  sequel  as  severe  as  it  was 
justly  merited. 

The  choice  of  Velasquez  finally  settled  upon  his  brother-in- 
law  Hernando  Cortes,  as  the  commander  of  the  new  ex- 
pedition. Beside  the  connection  that  subsisted  between  them 
by  marriage,  there  were  other  circumstances  that  led  to  this 
decision,  to  which  we  shall  hereafter  advert.  Cortes  was  born 
at  Medellin,  a  small  town  in  the  south-west  of  Spain,  in  the 
year  1485,  and  was  consequently  at  the  time  of  his  appoint- 
ment thirty-four  years  of  age,  nearly  fifteen  of  which  he  had 
passed  in  the  New  World.  According  to  Gomara,  his  parents 
were  persons  of  respectable  and  even  noble  connexions  in  old 
Spain,  and  were  generally  esteemed  for  their  piety  and  virtue, 
although  reduced  in  fortune.  His  father,  whose  name  was 
Martin  Cortes  de  Monroy,  had  served  when  young  in  the  wars 
of  the  peninsula  as  lieutenant  of  a  company  of  horse,  and  such 
was  his  standing  at  the  time  of  his  son's  first  success  in  Mexico, 
that  his  personal  influence  with  the  court  was  usefully  em- 
ployed in  his  behalf  to  counteract  the  malevolence  of  his 
enemies.  Cortes  in  his  childhood  was  of  feeble  health,  and 
often  seemed  at  the  point  of  death.  He  early  adopted,  says 
Gomara,  who  was  afterwards  his  chaplain,  the  glorious  apostle 
of  Jesus  Christ,  St.  Peter,  as  his  patron  saint,  whose  annual 

2 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

festival  he  was  always  careful  to  observe.  At  fourteen  years 
of  age,  he  was  sent  by  his  parents  to  study  at  .Salamanca, 
where  he  resided  with  Francisco  Nunez  de  Valera,  who  had 
married  his  father's  sister.  Here  he  commenced  a  regular 
course  of  academic  education,  it  being  the  intention  of  his 
parents  that  he  should  not  leave  the  university  until  prepared 
to  graduate  as  bachelor  of  laws,  as  they  designed  him,  says 
Gomara,  on  account  of  his  talents  and  universal  genius,  for 
that  rich  and  honorable  profession.  But  Cortes  was  destined 
in  this  instance  to  disappoint  their  hopes  ;  weary  of  study,  and 
imbibing  a  taste  for  more  active  pursuits,  he  returned  to  his 
father's  house  after  an  absence  of  two  years,  much  to  the  grief 
of  his  friends,*  At  that  period  war  was  the  most  honorable 
pursuit  in  which  a  man  could  engage,  and  the  adventurous  life 
to  which  it  led  had  peculiar  charms  for  a  youth  of  the  bold  and 
impetuous  temper  of  young  Cortes.  The  principal  theatre  of 
martial  exploits  in  Europe  at  that  time  was  Naples,  where  the 
Great  Captain,  Gonsalvo  de  Cordova,  was  conducting  the 
Spanish  arms  ;  and  Cortes  only  hesitated  between  joining  his 
countrymen  in  that  quarter,  and  embarking  for  the  new  world 
in  the  retinue  of  his  kinsman,  Nicholas  de  Ovando,  who  had 
been  just  appointed  to  succeed  Columbus  in  the  government  of 
the  Indies.  He  finally  decided  upon  the  latter  ;  but  accident- 
ally falling  from  a  wall  on  which  he  stood  in  the  act  of  serena- 
ding or  otherwise  paying  his  devoirs  to  some  fair  one,  he  was 
laid  up  by  the  injury  he  received  until  after  the  departure  of 
Ovando.  He  then  turned  his  attention  again  to  Italy ;  but 
after  wasting  a  year  in  fruitless  endeavors  to  place  himself  in 
the  road  to  military  fame,  he  once  more  changed  his  determina- 
tion and  resolved  to  embark  for  the  new  world. 

Receiving  a  small  outfit  from  his  parents,  Cortes  took  passage 
at  St.  Lucar,  in  the  year  1504,  in  a  merchant  ship  bound  to  the 
island  of  St.  Domingo,  where  he  safely  arrived,  and  was  kindly 
received  by  his  kinsman  Ovando,  the  governor.     After  some 

*  Gomara,  in  describing  the  early  education  of  Cortes,  says  that  he  spent  two 
years  at  Salamanca  in  studying  grammar  ("  aprendiendo  gramatica");  but 
under  the  term  "gramatica"  was  implied  a  course  of  study  in  Latin  and  Greek, 
as  well  as  rhetoric,  which  it  required  three  years  to  complete.  See  Plan  de 
Estudiosdeia  Universidad  de  Salamanca.    Madrid,  1772. 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

service  in  the  wars  against  the  natives  of  the  island,  he  finally 
settled  in  a  new  town,  called  Azua,  being  appointed  public  no- 
tary, and  receiving  from  the  governor  lands  and  Indians  for  his 
support.  Here  he  continued  to  reside  for  five  or  six  years,  env 
ploying  himself  in  the  improvement  of  his  plantation  ;  but 
when  an  expedition  was  fitted  out  for  the  conquest  of  the  island 
of  Cuba,  in  1511,  under  Diego  Velasquez,  Cortes  was  induced 
to  embark  in  it  in  the  capacity  of  secretary  to  the  king's  trea-1 
surer,  whose  duty  it  was  to  keep  an  account  of  the  fifths  and 
other  revenues  of  the  crown.  On  the  reduction  of  the  island* 
which  was  effected  with  scarcely  any  opposition  on  the  part  of 
the  natives,  he  settled  at  St.  Jago  de  Baracoa,  the  first  town 
founded  by  the  Spanish  colonists  in  Cuba,  where  he  again  de- 
voted himself  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  had  alloted  to 
him  the  distribution  of  the  Indians  of  a  certain  district  among 
the  colonists  in  conjunction  with  Juan  Juarez,  a  brother  in  law 
of  the  governor  Velasquez.  Cortes  was  the  first  to  stock  his 
plantation  with  cattle,  and  took  great  pains  in  the  raising  of 
horses,  cows,  and  sheep.  He  employed  his  Indians  in  collect- 
ing gold,  which  was  found  in  mountainous  districts,  the  beds 
of  rivers,  and  small  streams,  often  in  considerable  quantities.  He 
also  formed  a  connexion  in  trade  with  Andres  de  Duero*  a 
merchant,  and  by  these  various  means  succeeded  in  accumula- 
ting a  handsome  estate.  The  governor  having  at  this  time  de- 
termined to  erect  a  smelting-house  for  the  precious  metals,  and 
a  public  hospital,  the  superintendence  of  those  buildings  was 
given  to  Cortes,  who  was  otherwise  much  employed  in  public 
business. 

When  Don  Diego  Columbus,  soft  of  the  Admiral*  succeeded 
Ovando  in  the  government  of  the  Indies,  in  the  year  1509,  he 
was  accompanied  on  his  voyage  to  St.  Domingo  by  his  Vice- 
Queen,  Dona  Maria  de  Toledo,  niece  of  the  Duke  of  Alva, 
whom  he  had  then  recently  married.  They  were  attended  by 
a  retinue  of  hidalgos  with  their  families,  including  many  young 
ladies  of  rank.*     Amongst  these  were  the  mother  and  three  or 

*Gomara  is  a  little  ungallant,  when  he  says  that  they  came  in  pursuit  of  rich 
husbands :  "  con pensamiento  de  casarse  alia  con  Jiombres  ricos."  Cron.  Chap.  IV. 
Irving  is  not  less  so :   Columbus,  II.  216. 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

four  sisters  of  Juan  Juarez,  (already  mentioned  as  associated 
with  Cortes  in  the  distribution  of  the  Indians,)  who  came  from 
Granada  in  old  Spain.  Diego  Velasquez  married  one  of  these 
sisters,  all  of  whom  after  the  conquest  of  Cuba  had  removed  to  this 
island,  of  which  he  became  the  governor.  Being  remarkable  for 
their  beauty,  these  young  Spanish  ladies  were  much  admired 
by  their  countrymen  on  the  island  ;  one  of  them  named  Catalina 
(or  Catherine)  attracted  the  regard  of  Cortes,  who  finally  mar- 
ried her ;  and  on  account  of  the  excellence  of  her  character 
he  was  accustomed  to  say,  that  he  prized  her  as  highly  as  if  she 
had  been  the  daughter  of  a  duke.*  Prior  to  this  marriage,  a 
serious  difficulty  arose  between  Cortes  and  the  governor.  A 
number  of  the  colonists  had  resolved  to  prefer  some  complaints 
against  the  latter  to  the  viceroy,  of  which  Cortes  was  chosen  to 
be  the  bearer  ;  and  when  about  embarking  in  a  canoe  for  the 
island  of  St.  Domingo,  on  this  mission,  he  was  seized  and 
thrown  into  prison  by  the  orders  of  the  governor.  He  was, 
however,  subsequently  pardoned  by  Velasquez,  who  even  stood 
god-father  to  his  daughter  after  his  marriage. 

Such  are  some  of  the  circumstances  that  are  related  of  Cortes 
before  his  engaging  in  the  great  enterprise  that  has  immortal- 
ized his  name.  They  go  to  show  that  he  had  established  a  good 
reputation  for  industry  and  talents  amongst  his  fellow  colonists, 
although,  as  remarked  by  Herrera,  he  did  not  appear  to  be 
possessed  of  so  great  intelligence  and  capacity  as  he  afterwards 
displayed  in  affairs  of  superior  moment.  Disappointed  in  his 
expectation  of  finding  great  wealth  at  his  command  as  soon  as 
he  should  arrive  in  the  New  World, t  he  had  quietly  set  himself 
down  on  a  plantation,  and  applied  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil,  as  the  surest  means  of  advancing  bis  fortune.  With 
the  exception  of  occasional  forrays  amongst  the  hostile  Indians 
of  Hispaniola  or  Cuba,  Cortes  appears  to  have  been  wholly 
engrossed  with  these  pursuits,  and  to  have  had  little  experience 
in  military  life  before  he  embarked  in  his  great  enterprise.  The 
wonderful  tact  and  ability  exhibited  by  him  throughout  the  try- 

*  Dona  Catalina  remained  at  St.  Jago  until  after  the  conquest,  when  she  went 
to  Mexico,  and  was  received  by  Cortes  with  great  distinction.  She  died  at  Mexico 
two  or  three  years  after. 

t  Gom.  Cron.  c.  3. 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

ing  seenes  of  the  conquest  are  on  this  account  the  more  re- 
markable, and  prove  that  nature  had  endowed  him  with  ex- 
traordinary resources  of  mind,  which  only  required  a  suitable 
occasion  to  be  brought  fully  into  exercise.  Such  an  occasion 
had  at  length  arrived. 

The  circumstances  attending  the  outfit  of  the  expedition  to 
the  newly  discovered  lands,  and  the  appointment  of  Cortes  to 
its  command,  are  somewhat  differently  stated  by  the  early 
historians  ;  and  subsequent  writers  have  generally  followed  those 
least  favorable  to  the  conqueror.*  In  the  following  brief  ac- 
count it  is  proposed  to  rely  chiefly  upon  the  statements  of  Go- 
mara,  whose  impartiality  is  at  least  equal  to  that  of  his  con- 
temporaries, and  his  means  of  information  probably  far 
superior.  The  weak  and  irresolute  conduct  of  the  governor 
of  Cuba,  Diego  de  Velasquez,  in  regard  to  this  expedition,  is, 
indeed,  generally  admitted,  as  well  as  the  superior  address  and 
skilful  management  of  its  commander;  but  the  impression  is 
left,  notwithstanding,  that  the  former  was  unwarrantably  depriv- 
ed of  the  fruits  of  an  enterprise  projected  and  fitted  out  by 
himself.  The  little  ground  for  sustaining  a  charge  so  dis- 
honorable seems  to  be  amply  shown  by  the  manner  in  which 
the  enterprise  was  set  on  foot,  and  the  discreditable  efforts  made 
by  Velasquez  to  deprive  Cortes  of  the  command,  and  failing 
in  these,  to  cut  off"  its  supplies  and  prevent  its  departure.  Not 
content  with  these  ineffectual  attempts  to  frustrate  the  under- 
taking, it  will  be  seen  in  one  of  the  following  despatches,  that 
after  Cortes  had  gained  possession  of  the  city  of  Mexico, 
Velasquez  sent  a  powerful  force  against  him  under  the  com- 
mand of  Panfilo  de  Narvaez,  a  distinguished  cavalier,  and 
although  this,  like  all  his  previous  endeavors  to  check  the  career 
of  the  conqueror,  proved  abortive,  it  led  to  the  temporary  loss 
of  the  great  city,  and  entailed  a  series  of  cruel  disasters  on  the 
little  band  of  heroes  who  had  followed  their  undaunted  leader 
into  the  heart  of  the  Mexican  empire. 

*  Las  Casas  and  Bernal  Diaz  are  particularly  referred  to,  the  former  of  whons 
wrote  a  general  history  of  the  Indies,  still  unpublished,  which  formed  the 
main  authority  of  Herrera.  Las  Casas,  though  a  good  man,  was  a  prejudiced 
writer ;  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  old  soldier  who  wrote  his  history  to  do 
justice  to  his  companions  in  armsr  excepting  only  his  commander. 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

The  return  of  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  with  ocular  proofs  of  the 
riches  of  the  country  discovered  by  Grijalva,  led  the  governor, 
as  already  mentioned,  to  plan  another  expedition,  to  be  pro- 
vided with  men  and  arms  for  the  reduction  of  the  natives,  and 
an  assortment  of  cheap  merchandise  for  traffic.  He  first  ap- 
plied to  his  relative  Baltazar  Bermudez  to  take  the  command, 
but  as  this  person  required  an  outfit  of  three  thousand  ducats 
for  arming  and  victualling  the  ships,  Velasquez  objected  to  so 
large  a  sum,  saying  that  the  expenses  would  in  that  way  exceed 
the  profits  of  the  enterprise.  The  truth  was,  says  Gomara,  he 
had  a  penurious  disposition,  and  sought  to  have  the  benefit  that 
would  result  from  such  an  expedition  without  taking  his  share 
of  the  cost  of  fitting  it  out.  He  had  pursued  the  same  course 
with  that  of  Grijalva,  in  which  one  ship  had  been  provided  by 
Francisco  de  Montejo,  and  several  other  cavaliers,  amongst 
whom  were  Alonso  Hernandez  Portocarrero,  Alonso  de  Avila, 
and  Diego  de  Qfdas,  had  embarked  at  their  own  charge.  Ber- 
mudez thus  declining  the  proffered  command,  the  governor 
spoke  to  Cortes  on  the  subject,  proposing  to  share  equally  with 
him  the  expenses  of  the  armament,  as  they  were  already  joint 
partners  with  Andres  de  Duero,  a  merchant,  in  whose  business 
they  had  together  invested  a  considerable  sum  of  money.  At 
the  same  time,  knowing  his  diligence,  discretion,  and  energy  of 
character,  he  desired  Cortes  to  take  command  of  the  ships,  and 
superintend  the  affairs  of  the  voyage,  it  being  in  some  respects 
a  mercantile  adventure.  Not  supposing  that  the  enterprise 
would  involve  a  large  expenditure  of  money,  and  being  ambi- 
tious of  distinction,  Cortes  consented  to  the  proposed  partner- 
ship and  accepted  the  command  of  the  expedition  ;  after  which, 
having  concluded  upon  the  terms  of  their  agreement,  they  des- 
patched one  of  the  companions  of  Alvarado  to  the  island  of 
Hispaniola,  to  obtain  from  the  royal  audience  a  license  to 
traffic.  The  audience  consisted  of  ecclesiastics,  friars  of  the 
order  of  St.  Jerome,  named  Luis  de  Figueroa,  Alonso  de  Santo 
Domingo,  and  Bernaldino  de  Manzanedo,  who  exercised  the 
supreme  control  in  the  absence  of  Diego  Columbus,  the  gov- 
ernor, then  in  Spain.  A  license  was  granted  by  them  recogniz- 
ing Hernando  Cortes  as   commander,  and  jointly  concerned 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

with  Diego  Velasquez  in  the  outfit  of  the  expedition  ;  also 
requiring  it  to  be  attended  by  a  treasurer  and  surveyor  on  the 
part  of  the  crown,  to  look  after  the  king's  fifths,  as  was  usual. 

As  soon  as  the  license  was  received,  Cortes  set  about  pre- 
paring for  the  voyage.  No  sooner  had  he  made  known  his 
commission  than  great  numbers  began  to  flock  to  his  standard  ; 
he  then  purchased  a  caravel  and  brigantine,  beside  the  caravel 
in  which  Pedro  de  Alvaraclo  had  returned  from  Grijalva's  ex- 
pedition ;  Diego  Velasquez  furnished  only  a  single  brigantine. 
Cortes  also  procured  small  arms,  artillery,  and  munitions  of  war, 
together  with  wine,  oil,  and  other  provisions.  He  expended 
seven  hundred  pesos  of  gold  in  the  purchase  of  cheap  articles 
for  barter  with  the  natives.  Velasquez  gave  him  a  thousand 
pesos  belonging  to  Panfilo  de  Narvaez,  which  he  had  in  his 
hands,  during  the  absence  of  the  latter,  declaring  at  the  same 
time  that  he  had  not  a  penny  left  of  his  own.  The  agreement 
was  finally  executed  between  them  in  the  presence  of  a  public 
notary  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  October,  in  the  year  1518. 

In  the  mean  time  Grijalva  himself  arrived,  contrary  to  the 
expectations  of  the  governor,  who  had  given  him  up  for  lost. 
Various  causes  now  induced  Velasquez  to  withdraw  from  his 
engagement  with  Cortes,  and  to  render  him  unwilling  to  furnish 
money  towards  his  enterprise  ;  amongst  others,  he  wished  to 
send  back  the  ships  of  Grijalva  on  his  own  account  alone  ; 
and  seeing  the  lavish  manner  in  which  Cortes  expended  money, 
he  imagined  that  he  intended  to  set  up  for  himself;  especial- 
ly as  he  was  taught  by  Bermudez  and  others  to  distrust  him, 
as  a  subtle,  proud  and  aspiring  Estremaduran,  who  would  not 
be  likely  to  forget  past  griefs.  Bermudez  had  begun  to  regret 
having  himself  declined  the  command,  since  Grijalva  had 
returned  in  safety,  bringing  with  him  many  striking  proofs  of 
the  richness  of  the  new  countries.  Supposing  that  Cortes 
would  abandon  the  enterprise  on  his  withdrawal,  Velasquez 
sent  to  him  the  royal  treasurer,  Anador  de  Lares,  to  pursuade 
him  to  relinquish  the  design,  promising  to  repay  him  all  that  he 
had  expended.  Cortes  understanding  the  object  of  Velasquez, 
told  Lares  that  he  would  be  ashamed  to  relinquish  the  enter- 
prise, nor  would  he  give  up  the  agreement ;  that  if  the  gover- 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

nor  wished  to  send  some  one  else  at  his  own  individual  charge, 
he  might  do  it. ;  but  as  for  himself,  he  had  the  license  of  the 
royal  audience  and  intended  to  improve  it.  He  then  repaired 
to  his  friends  and  the  principal  persons  who  intended  to  em- 
bark with  him,  to  see  if  after  the  refusal  of  Velasquez  he  could 
still  rely  upon  them  ;  and  when  he  found  their  confidence  un- 
shaken, he  continued  his  preparations,  borrowing  money  for 
the  purpose,  to  the  amount  of  4000  pesos  of  gold  from  Andres 
de  Duero,  Pedro  de  Xerez,  Antonio  de  Santa  Clara,  mer- 
chants in  Cuba,  and  others.  With  the  means  thus  furnished, 
he  purchased  two  ships,  six  horses,  and  much  clothing ;  he 
also  kept  open  doors,  and  appeared  in  public  fully  armed  and 
attended  by  a  numerous  retinue.  Velasquez  was  evidently 
piqued  on  seeing  the  vigorous  measures  taken  by  Cortes  in 
equipping  his  expedition,  and  his  success  in  drawing  men  into 
his  service,  amongst  whom  were  many  of  those  who  had  returned 
with  Grijalva  ;  but  he  was  unable  to  check  him,  for  if  he  had  un- 
dertaken to  disturb  his  arrangements,  it  would  have  led  to  a 
commotion  in  the  city,  and  perhaps  to  bloodshed  ;  he  therefore 
dissembled  his  feelings.  In  the  mean  time,  Cortes  hastened  his 
departure ;  he  proclaimed  that  he  went  on  his  own  account 
alone,  and  told  the  soldiers  that  they  had  nothing  to  do  with 
Diego  Velasquez  ;  he  also  bade  them  lay  in  their  own  pro- 
visions to  the  extent  of  their  means.  Having  taken  on  board 
a  lot  of  hogs  and  sheep,  for  which  he  gave  the  owner  a  chain 
of  gold  in  payment,  he  set  sail  from  Saint  Jago  on  the  18th 
of  November,  with  about  300  Spaniards  in  six  ships. 

The  expedition  was  but  poorly  supplied  with  provisions  for 
so  many  men,  and  Cortes  found  it  necessary  immediately  after 
quitting  St.  Jago,  (which  he  left  somewhat  hastily  on  account 
of  the-  temper  of  the  governor,)  to  despatch  a  caravel  to 
Jamaica  to  procure  a  further  supply,  with  orders  to  rejoin  the 
fleet  at  Cape  Corrientes,  or  Point  St.  Antonio,  which  is  the 
northern  extremity  of  Cuba.  In  the  mean  time,  the  rest  of  the 
ships  sailed  to  Macaca,  on  the  southern  coast  of  the  island, 
where    Cortes  purchased  three  hundred  cargas  of  bread*  and 

*  A  carga  or  load  was  50  lbs.,  being  the  amount  of  burthen  assigned  to  an 
Indian.    A  mule  load  was  of  course  more. 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

some  swine.  He  sailed  from  that  port  to  Trinidad,  where  he 
bought  another  ship,  three  horses,  and  a  thousand  bushels  of 
corn.  While  at  this  place  he  received  information  of  the  pass- 
ing of  a  ship  laden  with  provisions  for  the  mines,  and  despatch- 
ed a  caravel  well  armed  under  the  command  of  Diego  de 
Ordas,  with  orders  to  intercept  the  ship  and  carry  her  to  Point 
St.  Antonio.  Ordas  succeeded  in  overtaking  the  vessel  in  the 
channel  of  the  Gardens,  and  took  her  to  the  place  appoint- 
ed, but  the  master,  whose  name  was  Juan  Nunez  Sedeno, 
went  to  Trinidad  with  the  register  or  manifest  of  his  cargo, 
which  consisted  of  4000  arrobas  of  bread,*  1500  hams,  and  a 
large  number  of  fowls.  For  these  Cortes  paid  him  in  part,  and 
gave  his  note  for  the  balance  ;  when  Sedeno  joined  the  expe- 
dition. At  Trinidad  about  two  hundred  men  were  enlisted, 
most  of  whom  had  accompanied  Grijalva,  and  belonged  to 
that  place,  Matanzas,  Carenas,  and  other  settlements  on  the 
island.  Sending  forward  the  ships,  Cortes  himself  with  some 
of  the  men  proceeded  by  land  across  the  island  to  the  Havana, 
where  out  of  respect  to  the  governor  the  inhabitants  would 
sell  him  no  provisions ;  but  two  functionaries  of  the  church, 
one  of  whom  was  the  collecter  of  tithes  for  the  bishop,  and 
the  other  receiver  of  the  Pope's  bulls,  supplied  him  with 
two  thousand  hams  and  as  many  more  cargas  of  maize,  cassava 
and  yams.  Thus  the  fleet  was  comfortably  provided  with 
stores,  and  Cortes  began  to  distribute  the  men  and  provisions 
amongst  the  different  ships. 

At  this  port,  Cortes  was  joined  by  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  Cris- 
tobal de  Olid,  Alonso  de  Avila,  Francisco  de  Montejo,  and 
others  of  Grijalva's  expedition,  who  arrived  in  a  caravel,  having 
been  on  a  visit  to  Diego  Velasquez.  Amongst  these  came  one 
Garnica,  with  letters  from  Velasquez  to  Cortes,  desiring  him  to 
wait  until  he  could  come  or  send  to  him  on  matters  of  import- 
ance to  both  of  them ;  at  the  same  time,  he  wrote  to  Diego  Ordas 
and  others,  requesting  them  to  arrest  him.  Ordas  accordingly 
invited  Cortes  to  an  entertainment  on  board  of  his  caravel,  think- 
ing to  take  him  to  St.  Jago;  but  Cortes  understanding  the  design, 
pretended  to  have  a  sickness  at  his  stomach,  and  declined  the 

*  An  arroba  is  25  lbs. 

3 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

invitation.  In  order,  however,  to  prevent  any  trouble  from 
arising,  he  went  on  board  his  own  ship,  and  made  the  usual 
signal  for  the  rest  of  the  fleet  to  get  under  weigh,  with  orders 
to  sail  for  St.  Antonio,  where  all  soon  arrived  in  good  condition. 
Here  he  reviewed  his  troops,  and  found  they  numbered  five 
hundred  and  fifty  Spaniards,  of  whom  fifty  were  mariners. 
He  then  distributed  them  into  eleven  companies  of  fifty  each, 
and  appointed  the  following  captains  to  command  them,  viz. 
Alonso  de  Avila,  Alonso  Fernandez  Puertocarrero,  James  de 
Ordas,  Francisco  de  Montejo,  Francisco  de  Morla,  Francisco 
de  Salzedo,  Juan  de  Escalante,  Juan  Velasquez  de  Leon, 
Cristobal  de  Olid,  and  Pedro  de  Alvarado.  Cortes  himself 
took  the  command  of  one  company.  Each  captain  had  also 
command  of  one  of  the  ships,  which  were  eleven  in  number. 
Antonio  de  Alaminos  was  appointed  chief  pilot,  having  served 
in  that  capacity  with  both  Cordova  and  Grijalva.  About  two 
hundred  Indians,  natives  of  the  island  of  Cuba,  were  taken 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  burthens,  together  with  several 
negroes  and  native  women,  and  sixteen  horses  and  mares. 
Their  stores  amounted  to  five  thousand  hams,  and  six  thousand 
cargas  of  maize,  cassava,  and  yams,  besides  fowls,  sugar,  wine, 
oil,  peas  and  other  leguminous  plants.  The  merchandise 
consisted  of  a  variety  of  cheap  articles,  which  were  distributed 
amongst  the  ships.  The  burthen  of  the  commander's  ship 
was  one  hundred  tons  ;  three  others  were  eighty  tons  each  ;  and 
the  remainder  were  brigantines  and  small  vessels  without  decks. 
The  device  of  the  flag  was  flames  of  fire  on  a  white  and  blue 
ground,  with  a  red  cross  in  the  midst  of  the  blaze,  and  the 
following  words  on  the  borders  in  Latin  as  a  motto  :  "  Friends, 

LET  US  FOLLOW  THE  CROSS,  AND  IF  WE  HAVE  FAITH  IN  THAT 
STANDARD,  WE  SHALL  CONQUER."* 

Such  were  the  preparations  made  by  Hernando  Cortes  for 
his  great  enterprise.  Never  before,  says  Gomara,  did  any  cap- 
tain so  feebly  attended  gain  such  brilliant  victories,  or  subdue 
so  vast  an  empire.  He  took  no  money  with  him  to  pay  his 
men  ;   on  the  contrary  he  was  deeply  indebted  ;   and  indeed 

*  Amici,  Crucem  sequamur,  et  in  hoc  signo  vincemus. 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

it  was  not  necessary  to  offer  wages  to  Spaniards  in  the  Indies 
as  an  inducement  to  engage  in  such  expeditions.  The  prospect 
of  making  valuable  discoveries,  leading  to  their  own  as  well  as 
the  public  advantage,  was  a  sufficient  consideration.  When  the 
whole  expedition  was  in  readiness  for  sailing,  Cortes  made  an 
animated  address  to  his  followers,  by  which  they  were  much 
encouraged  in  their  hopes  of  a  successful  enterprise.  After 
celebrating  a  solemn  mass,  and  invoking  St.  Peter,  his  patron 
saint,  he  gave  orders  for  the  fleet  to  get  under  weigh,  and  the 
expedition  finally  sailed  on  the  eighteenth  of  February,  in  the 
year  1519. 

The  first  night  a  violent  storm  arose  that  dispersed  the  ships, 
but  as  it  was  not  of  long  continuance,  the  whole  fleet,  with  the 
exception  of  one  ship,  arrived  in  good  condition  at  the  island 
of  Cozutnel,  which  had  been  appointed  as  a  place  of  rendez- 
vous in  case  of  separation  ;  the  missing  vessel  was  afterwards 
found  on  the  other  side  of  the  peninsula,  safely  anchored  in  a 
bay  near  Campeachy.  Pedro  de  Alvarado  had  reached  Cozu- 
mel  two  days  in  advance  of  the  rest  of  the  expedition,  and 
landing  at  the  Indian  town  on  the  coast,  found  it  deserted  ; 
proceeding  thence  into  the  interior  of  the  island,  he  discovered 
another  town  about  a  league  distant,  which  was  also  abandoned 
by  the  inhabitants.  The  soldiers  here  seized  upon  every  thing 
of  any  value,  such  as  cotton  garments,  provisions,  &.c,  and 
stripped  a  temple  of  its  idols  with  their  ornaments  of  gold,  sac- 
rificial knives,  and  other  utensils,  formed  of  gold  alloyed  with 
copper.  They  also  took  three  prisoners,  two  men  and  a  woman. 
As  soon  as  Cortes  arrived,  and  understood  what  had  been  done 
by  Alvarado's  party,  he  was  greatly  incensed,  and  having  pub- 
licly reprimanded  that  officer,  ordered  whatever  had  been  taken 
to  be  restored,  and  the  prisoners  set  at  liberty ;  to  whom  he 
gave  some  trifling  presents  for  their  caciques,  as  a  token  of 
friendship,  at  the  same  time  expressing  his  regret  at  what  had 
taken  place  in  his  absence.  Soon  after  the  natives  began  to 
visit  the  Spanish  camp,  and  before  the  departure  of  the  expe- 
dition, the  most  cordial  and  friendly  intercourse  existed  be- 
tween them.  Such  was  a  commencement  of  the  conciliatory 
policy  adopted  by  Cortes  towards  the  Indians  throughout  his 


20  INTRODUCTION. 

whole  enterprise ;  he  never  resorted  to  hostile  measures  until 
every  possible  effort  had  been  made  to  avoid  them  without 
success. 

The  principal  temple  on  this  island  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  Spaniards  ;  it  was  well  built  of  stone,  in  the  form  of  a 
square  tower,  with  four  doors  or  windows  opening  upon  an 
embattled  corridor.  It  contained  an  idol  of  unusual  dimen- 
sions, placed  against  the  wall,  and  unlike  in  figure  any  others 
they  had  seen.  In  the  rear  was  a  room  corresponding  to  the 
sacristry  or  vestry  of  a  church,  where  were  kept  the  articles 
used  in  the  service  of  the  temple,  and  belonging  to  the  idol  or 
the  priests.  There  was  a  small,  secret  door  that  opened  through 
the  wall  into  the  body  of  the  idol,  by  means  of  which  one  of  the 
priests  entered,  and  answered  audibly  the  prayers  and  petitions 
of  the  worshippers,  who  believed  that  the  idol  itself  spoke,  and 
were  liberal  in  their  offerings,  which  consisted  of  the  fumes  of 
copal,  burnt  as  incense,  bread  and  fruits,  together  with  the 
blood  of  quails  and  other  birds,  dogs,  and  even  men.  Such 
was  the  fame  of  this  idol,  that  devotees  resorted  to  the  island 
from  various  countries  for  the  purpose  of  paying  it  homage. 
But  what  was  most  remarkable  in  the  religious  ceremonies  of 
this  people  was  their  worship  of  the  cross  ;  for  within  an  en- 
closure formed  by  a  handsome  turreted  wall  of  stone  and  lime, 
at  the  base  of  this  temple,  stood  a  cross  of  stone  about  ten  feet 
high,  which  they  adored  as  the  god  of  rain  ;  and  in  times  of 
drought,  the  devotees  going  in  large  processions  made  it  offer- 
ings of  quails  to  appease  its  anger.  The  origin  of  this  worship 
of  the  cross  is  quite  mysterious,  says  Gomara,  (from  whom  this 
account  is  almost  literally  taken,)  for  there  is  no  reason  to  sup- 
pose that  the  gospel  was  ever  preached  on  their  island,  or  any 
where  else  in  the  new  world,  before  the  arrival  of  the  Spanish 
discoverers.* 

During  his  stay  on  this  island,  Cortes  took  means  to  reform 

*  Cron.  Nuev.  Esp.  Cap.  xv.  Stephens,  in  his  recent  work  on  Yucatan,  has 
an  interesting  account  of  his  visit  to  the  island  of  Cozumel,  which,  it  seems,  is 
now  destitute  of  inhabitants.  The  remains  of  the  temple  described  above  are 
still  to  be  seen  there.  A  "  Cozumel  cross"  is  shown  in  a  church  at  Merida,  but 
if  the  same  seen  on  the  island  by  the  conquerors,  it  has  received  sundry  addi- 
tions.    Incidents  of  Travel  in  Yucatan.  77.376-7. 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

the  religion  of  the  natives  by  erecting  altars  in  their  temples, 
destroying  their  idols,  and  substituting  in  their  place  crosses  and 
images  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  the  saints  ;  to  which  the  island- 
ers, abandoning  their  own  superstitions,  paid  apparent  respect, 
burning  incense  before  them,  and  bringing  them  offerings  of 
quails,  Indian  corn,  fruits  and  other  things,  which  they  had 
been  accustomed  to  present  to  their  idols-  They  also  requested 
Cortes  to  leave  with  them  a  teacher  of  the  true  faith,  who  would 
instruct  them  how  to  worship  the  God  of  the  Christians  ;  which 
however,  he  declined  doing  on  account  of  the  small  number  of 
priests  in  the  expedition,  as  well  as  from  an  unwillingness  to  ex- 
pose the  life  of  any  individual  amongst  a  people  but  partially 
converted  from  the  errors  of  paganism.* 

Through  a  native  of  the  island  who  had  been  taken  to  Cuba 
by  Grijalva,  and  now  served  as  an  interpreter,  it  was  casually 
ascertained  that  there  were  several  Spaniards  in  captivity  on 
the  coast  of  Yucatan  ;  when  Cortes  at  once  despatched  Ordas 
in  a  brigantine  with  several  natives,  bearing  a  letter  addressed 
to  the  Spaniards,  and  some  trifling  articles  for  their  ransom. 
Ordas,  after  landing  the  Indians  on  the  coast,  was  directed  to 
wait  eight  days  only  for  their  return ;  but  at  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  neither  the  Spanish  captives  nor  the  islanders  had  ap- 
peared. He  then  went  back  to  the  island,  and  Cortes  suppos- 
ing he  had  been  deceived  soon  after  took  his  leave  of  Cozumel. 
But  the  fleet  had  not  proceeded  far  on  its  way,  when  one  of  the 
vessels  sprung  a  leak,  and  rendered  it  necessary  to  return  to  the 
island  for  repairs.  This  accident  was  regarded  by  the  Span- 
iards as  an  instance  of  divine  interposition  in  their  behalf;  for 
it  led  to  the  recovery  of  a  Christian  captive,  who  was  well  qua- 
lified to  act  as  an  interpreter  of  the  language  of  Yucatan,  from 
his  long  residence  in  that  country.  The  repairs  were  already 
completed,  and  the  ships  ready  to  set  sail  on  the  Saturday  follow- 
ing their  return  to  the  island,  but  contrary  winds  detained  them 
till  the  next  day  ;  as  this  was  the  first  Sunday  in  Lent,  they  de- 
termined to  hear  mass,  and  then  after  taking  some  refreshment 
to  embark.     While  Cortes  was  partaking  of  his  repast,  he  was 

*  Fathers  Olmedo  and  Juan  Diaz  (supposed  author  of  the  Itinerary  of  Grijalva's 
voyage)  accompanied  the  expedition. 


22  INTRODUCTION', 

told  that  a  canoe  under  sail  was  crossing  from  Yucatan  in  the 
direction  of  the  ships  ;  and  rising  from  the  table  he  discovered 
the  canoe  bending  its  way  to  the  shore.  He  immediately  dis- 
patched a  party  of  men  to  watch  her  landing,  who,  concealing 
themselves  near  the  shore,  saw  four  tawny  savages  (as  they  ap- 
peared) leave  the  canoe ;  they  were  armed  with  bows  and  ar- 
rows, and  on  seeing  the  Spaniards  approach  them  with  drawn 
swords,  three  of  them  fled,  but  the  fourth  called  the  others  back, 
telling  them  in  the  Indian  tongue  to  have  no  fears.  He  then  ad- 
dressed the  Spaniards  in  their  own  language,  and  inquired  if 
they  were  Christians  ;  on  their  answering  in  the  aflirmative,  and 
that  they  were  Spaniards,  tears  of  joy  filled  his  eyes ;  he  then 
asked  if  it  was  not  Wednesday,  for  he  had  a  prayer-book  in 
which  he  prayed  every  day,  and  begged  them  to  thank  God  for 
his  delivery.  Kneeling  down  devoutly,  stretching  out  his 
hands,  and  turning  his  eyes  towards  Heaven,  while  tears  bathed 
his  cheeks,  he  made  his  humble  prayer  to  God,  giving  him 
hearty  thanks  for  his  deliverance  out  of  the  hands  of  infidels 
and  savages,  and  his  restoration  to  the  society  of  Christians  and 
his  own  countrymen.  The  Spanish  soldiers  then  embraced 
him,  and  conducted  him  to  Cortes,  by  whom  he  was  joyfully 
received  and  supplied  with  suitable  apparel.  His  name  was 
Geronimo  de  Aguilar. 

Cortes  finally  sailed  from  Cozumel  on  the  fourth  of  March, 
having  received  a  supply  of  wax  and  honey  from  the  natives, 
who  parted  with  him  in  the  most  friendly  manner.  Steering 
towards  Yucatan,  he  ran  in  near  the  coast,  which  he  closely 
followed  to  the  northwest,  examining  with  the  boats  and  smaller 
vessels  every  little  bay  and  river  in  quest  of  the  missing  ship. 
In  this  way  they  reached  Campeachy,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
which,  on  entering  a  bay  formed  by  a  small  group  of  islands, 
the  missing  ship  was  found  in  good  condition,  and  so  complete- 
ly land-locked  that  Cortes  gave  the  bay  the  name  of  Puerto 
Escondido,  which  it  still  bears.*  The  ship's  company  hailed 
the  arrival  of  their  companions  with  great  joy,  having  feared 
the  loss  of  the  rest  of  the  fleet.  They  had  been  supplied  with 
game  for  food  by  a  greyhound,  which  had  been  left  on  the  coast 
by  one  of  the  former  expeditions. 

*  At  least  there  is  a  bay  of  that  name  in  the  same  neighborhood. 


INTRODUCTION.  23 

From  this  place  Cortes  pursued  his  route  to  the  river  Tabas- 
co, where  Grijalva  had  met  with  a  most  liberal  and  kind  recep- 
tion from  the  natives.*  On  their  arrival  at  the  mouth  of  that 
river,  the  large  ships  not  being  able  to  pass  the  bar  came  to 
anchor.  The  Spaniards  were  at  once  struck  with  the  appear- 
ance of  boats  filled  with  Indians  ;  some  armed,  and  all  much 
superior  in  aspect  to  those  of  the  islands.  Leaving  a  sufficient 
force  to  guard  the  ships,  Cortes  embarked  the  rest  in  the  brigan- 
tines  and  small  boats,  with  several  pieces  of  artillery,  and  rowed 
up  the  river  against  a  strong  current.  After  proceeding  a  little 
more  than  half  a  league,  he  discovered  a  large  town  with  houses 
built  of  sun-dried  bricks  and  covered  with  thatched  roofs.  It 
was  surrounded  by  a  wall  of  timber,  of  great  strength  and  pro- 
vided with  loopholes,  through  which  arrows,  stones  and  darts 
were  discharged  in  time  of  war.  Accosting  some  of  the  ca- 
noes, through  the  interpreter  Aguilar,  Cortes  requested  leave  to 
land  for  supplies  of  fresh  water  and  provisions,  of  which  they 
were  in  want,  and  would  pay  well.  The  boatmen  promised  to 
take  a  message  to  the  town  and  bring  an  answer.  They  went, 
and  soon  returned  bringing  five  or  six  boats  filled  with  bread, 
and  a  few  turkeys,  which  they  told  the  Spaniards  to  accept  as 
a  gift.  Cortes  replied  that  these  were  entirely  inadequate  to 
their  wants,  on  account  of  the  number  of  persons  in  the  large 
ships  below,  which  they  had  not  seen ;  and  he  begged  they 
would  send  word  to  allow  him  to  enter  the  town  and  obtain  his 
supplies.  The  Indians  asked  one  night  to  consider  his  request 
and  returned  to  the  town  ;  while  Cortes  went  to  a  little  island 
in  the  river,  where  he  waited  till  morning  for  their  answer.  Both 
practised  some  deception  ;  the  Indians  wanting  the  time  in  or- 
der to  carry  away  their  effects  and  women  and  children  to  the 
mountains  during  the  night,  and  to  rally  their  warriors  ;  while 
Cortes  sent  for  the  rest  of  his  force  that  had  been  left  in  the 
ships  to  come  up  to  the  island  ;  and  caused  a  search  to  be 
made  on  the  river  for  a  fording  place.  Neither  party  knew 
what  the  other  was  doing  during  the  night.  The  men  came 
from  the  ships,   and  a  ford  was  found  within  less  than  half  a 

*  This  river  was  long  called  from  its  discoverer  the  Rio  de  Grijalva  :  which  it 
still  bears  on  some  maps. 


24  INTRODUCTION. 

league  above,  where  the  water  was  only  two  or  three  feet  deep. 
They  also  discovered  a  thicket,  of  trees  under  shelter  of  which 
they  could  approach  very  near  the  town  without  being  seen. 
Cortes  on  obtaining  this  information  immediately  directed  two 
officers,  Alonzo  de  Avila  and  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  with  each 
150  men,  to  occupy  the  woods  the  same  night,  in  order  to  be 
in  readiness,  on  hearing  a  signal,  to  attack  the  town  on  the 
land  side  in  the  morning. 

As  soon  as  it  was  day,  eight  boats  filled  with  armed  men, 
more  numerous  than  before,  came  to  the  island,  bringing  a  very 
small  quantity  of  provisions,  saying  that  they  could  not  fetch 
more,  as  the  inhabitants  had  all  fled  from  the  town  from  fear ; 
and  they  therefore  begged  that  the  Spaniards  would  take  this 
supply,  and  return  to  the  sea,  and  not  disturb  the  peace  of  the 
country.  The  interpreter  answered  that  it  was  shameful  to  leave 
them  to  perish  with  hunger,  and  that  they  would  soon  repent  it. 
They  replied  that  they  knew  them  not,  and  as  they  had  a  fright- 
ful appearance,  they  feared  to  admit  them  to  their  houses  ;  and  if 
they  wanted  water,  they  could  take  it  out  of  the  river  or  dig  wells, 
as  they  did  when  they  wanted  it.  Cortes  then  said,  that  he 
could  by  no  means  depart  without  entering  the  town  and  seeing 
the  country,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  an  account  of  it  to  the 
greatest  lord  in  the  world,  who  had  sent  him  there  ;  and  that 
they  might  give  him  a  favorable  reception  or  not,  as  they 
pleased  ;  if  not,  he  should  commend  himself  to  the  power  of 
God  and  his  own  strength.  The  Indians  retorted,  that  he 
had  better  go  away,  and  not  boast  in  other  people's  country ; 
and  that  as  to  entering  the  town,  they  would  never  permit  it, 
and  if  attempted,  they  would  destroy  them  all.  Cortes  still  per- 
sisted in  his  endeavor  to  obtain  an  amicable  reception,  but 
finding  it  all  in  vain,  gave  the  signal  for  the  attack  on  the  land- 
side,  and  he  himself  at  the  head  of  200  men  approached  in 
boats  near  the  town  wall,  where  he  discharged  his  ordnance  and 
then  leaped  into  the  water  to  the  knees,  and  began  the  assault 
on  the  walls  and  bulwarks.  The  Indians  fought  with  desperation, 
wounding  several  Spaniards  with  their  arrows  and  darts  ;  and 
although  terrified  at  the  strange  noise  of  the  ordnance,  made  a 
courageous  resistance  and  fled  not  from  the  walls.     But  the 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

land  force  coming  upon  them  unawares,  entered  the  town  on 
the  side  where  it  was  not  defended  ;  the  enemy  seeing  this,  left 
the  river  side  of  the  town  to  defend  the  other,  and  in  the  mean 
time  Cortes  entered,  and  took  possession  of  the  market  place, 
and  drove  the  inhabitants  out  of  the  town.  The  Spaniards 
searched  the  houses,  but  found  nothing  but  Indian  corn,  tur- 
keys, some  articles  of  cotton,  and  a  few  grains  of  gold.  Cortes 
took  up  his  quarters  in  the  temple,  which  afforded  space  enough 
to  contain  all  the  Spaniards,  as  it  had  a  court  and  several  large 
and  elegant,  halls.  This  was  the  first  city  taken  by  force  of 
arms  in  the  course  of  the  expedition. 

After  another  engagement  the  caciques  waited  upon  Cortes, 
bringing  presents  of  gold,  cotton  mantles,  and  ornaments  of 
feathers,  and  twenty  female  slaves  ;  and  having  made  many 
excuses  for  their  conduct,  submitted  cheerfully  to  the  power  of 
the  superior  beings  by  whom  they  had  been  conquered.  They 
also  brought  cassava  bread,  turkeys,  fruits,  and  other  pro- 
visions, together  with  a  considerable  amount  of  gold.  Cortes 
received  them  kindly  and  made  them  some  small  presents  in 
return,  which  they  valued  highly.  It  was  remarked  on  this 
occasion,  that  the  Indians  were  struck  by  the  neighing  of  the 
horses,  and  imagining  that  they  spoke,  inquired  of  the  Spa* 
niards  what  they  said  ;  who  replied  that  they  were  offended  on 
account  of  their  having  fought  against  them.  The  simple  In- 
dians then  asked  the  horses  their  pardon,  and  gave  them  roses 
and  turkey-hens  to  eat.* 

Departing  from  Tabasco,  the  expedition  continued  its  cruise 
in  a  north-westerly  direction,  keeping  close  in  with  the  land, 
until  they  arrived  at  a  river  which  they  called  Alvafado,  from 
the  captain  of  that  name,  who  was  the  first  to  enter  it ;  this 
name  it  still  bears.  From  thence  they  followed  the  coast  un- 
til they  reached  the  islands  of  Sacrificios  and  S.  Juan  de 
Ulua,  opposite  the  present  city  of  Vera  Cruz. 

This  part  of  the  Mexican  coast  was  called  Chalchiucoecan 
by  the  Indians,  great  numbers  of  whom  flocked  down  to  the 

*Gom.  Cron.  c.xxi.  Cortes  in  his  second  letter  calls  the  river  Tabasco  the 
Rio  Grande,  and  the  town  Potonchan.  See  p.  69.  Gomara  also  gives  the  same 
name  to  the  town.  In  his  fourth  letter,  Cortes  mentions  the  river  under  the  names 
of  Victoria  and  Grijalva.    Seep.  361. 

4 


26  INTRODUCTION. 

shore   on  the  arrival  of  the   fleet,   and  made   signals  to   the 
Spaniards,  inviting  them  to  land.    Two  canoes  also  went  along 
side,  with  messengers  from  the  governor,  named   Teuhtlile   or 
Teudilli,  inquiring  for  the  admiral  of  the  fleet ;  and  when  shown 
into  his  presence  they  made  a  humble  salutation,  and  gave  him  to 
understand  that  the  governor  wished  to  know  what  people  they 
were  and  what  they  wanted,  and  to  offer  them  any  assistance  for 
the  prosecution  of  their  voyage.    Aguilar,  the  interpreter,  was 
now  at  fault,  not  understanding  their  language  ;   but  Cortes  en- 
deavored to  make  amends  by  entertaining  the  messengers  in  a 
hospitable  manner ;  and  inviting  them  to  partake  of  wine  and 
sweetmeats,  he   signified  to  them  that  the  next   day  he  would 
come  onshore  and  visit  the  governor  in  the  most  friendly  manner. 
He  then  dismissed  them   with   presents.     The  next  day  being 
Good  Friday,  Cortes  landed  with  a  large  number  of  his  men, 
taking  with  him  also  the  horses  and  artillery,  and  two  hundred 
natives  of  Cuba,  who  performed   the   drudgery  of  the   camp. 
Having  selected  the  best  situation  he  could  find  amongst  the 
sand  banks  on  the  sea  shore,  he  employed  his  men  in  building 
huts  of  the  branches  of  trees  ;  and   while  they  were  thus  en- 
gaged, many  Indians  came  amongst  them  bringing  pieces  of 
gold  to  barter  for  such  trinkets  as  had  been  given  to  the  gover- 
nor's messengers.     They  also  brought  much  bread   and  meat 
already  cooked  in  their  fashion,   and  red  pepper,  which  they 
were  willing  to  give  or  sell  to  the  Spaniards.     In  exchange  for 
these  things,  they  received   glass  beads,  looking-glasses,  scis- 
sors, knives,  pins,  &c,  which  pleased  them  much.     The  next 
day  they  came  again  with  a  fresh  supply  of  gold  and  pro- 
visions ;  but  Cortes  cautioned  his  people  not  to  show  too  great 
an  eagerness  for  gold,  lest  it  should  be  supposed  to  have  been 
the  object  of  their  coining  ;  and  he  even  forbade  their  receiving 
it  at  all,  in  order  to  guard  against  such  an  impression.     On  the 
following  day,  which  was  Easter,  Cortes  received  a  visit  in  his 
camp  from  the  governor  ;  who  came  from  his  residence,  a  dis- 
tance of  eight  leagues,  for  this  purpose.     He  was  attended  by 
a  retinue  of  men,  who  were  unarmed  and  for  the  most  part 
well  clothed,  some  of  them  in  rich  cotton  garments ;  others 
were  naked  and  laden  with  provisions,  being  in  the  capacity  of 
porters.     The  governor  paid  his  respects  to  Cortes    after  the 


INTRODUCTION.  27 

manner  of  the  country,  burning1  before  him  incense  and  little 
straws  touched  with  his  own  blood  ;  he  then  presented  him 
the  supplies  of  food  brought  by  his  servants,  several  rich  jewels 
of  gold,  curiously  wrought,  and  other  not  less  finished  articles 
composed  of  feathers.  Cortes  embraced  him,  and  showed 
every  mark  of  pleasure  at  his  visit ;  he  also  saluted  his  atten- 
dants, at  the  same  time  he  gave  him  a  robe  of  silk,  a  medal- 
lion, a  necklace  of  glass,  a  quantity  of  beads,  looking-glasses, 
scissors,  laces,  rings,  shirts,  handkerchiefs,  and  various  articles 
composed  of  leather,  wool,  and  iron,  all  which,  though  of  little 
value,  the  Indians  prized  very  highly. 

In  consequence  of  Aguilar's  inability  to  understand  the  Mexi- 
can or  Aztec  language,  and  the  want  of  another  interpreter, 
Cortesfound  great  difficulty  in  making  himself  understood  by  the 
governor  ;  fortunately  this  difficulty  was  about  to  be  removed. 
It  happened  on  the  occasion  of  this  visit,  that  one  of  the  twenty 
female  slaves  given  to  the  Spanish  leader  by  the  cacique  of 
Tabasco  was  observed  to  be  engaged  in  conversation  with  a 
servant  of  the  governor,  and  on  inquiry  Cortes  ascertained  that 
she  understood  the  Mexican  as  well  as  the  Maya  language, 
having  acquired  the  latter  at  Tabasco.  She  was  a  young  girl 
of  great  beauty  and  sprightliness,  and  quick  apprehension, 
who  in  the  distribution  of  the  slaves  had  been  assigned  to  Don 
Alonso  Puertocarrero,  one  of  the  Spanish  officers.  With  the 
rest  of  the  slaves  she  was  baptized  at  Tabasco,  and  took  the 
name  of  Marina.  Although  in  the  condition  of  a  menial, 
Marina  was  the  daughter  of  a  cacique  of  Guasacualco,  having 
been  taken  from  her  home  and  sold  as  a  slave  after  the  death 
of  her  father.  Cortes,  as  soon  as  he  discovered  her  knowledge 
of  the  Mexican  language,  (which  was  spoken  in  the  place  of 
her  nativity),  promised  to  restore  her  to  freedom,  if  she  would  act 
with  fidelity  as  an  interpreter.  Marina  of  course  complied, 
and  afterwards  throughout  the  conquest  proved  of  invaluable 
service  to  the  expedition.  At  first  she  interpreted  the  Mexican 
into  Maya  to  Aguilar,  who  communicated  with  Cortes  in 
Spanish ;  but  being  of  a  quick  capacity,  she  soon  acquired  a 
sufficient  knowledge  of  the  Spanish  to  enable  her  to  translate 
the  Mexican  directly  into  that  language.     "  She  was  always 


28  INTRODUCTION. 

faithful  to  the  Spaniards,"  says  Clavigero,  "  and  her  services 
to  them  can  never  be  overrated ;  as  she  was  not  only  the  instru- 
ment of  their  negotiations  with  the  Mexicans,  the  Tlascalans, 
and  the  other  nations  of  Anahuac,  but  frequently  saved  their 
lives  by  warning  them  of  dangers,  and  pointing  out  the  means 
of  escaping  them."  The  same  learned  historian  adds,  "  We 
have  thought  proper  not  to  omit  these  incidents  in  the  life  of  a 
woman  who  was  the  first  Christian  of  the  Mexican  empire,  who 
makes  so  distinguished  a  figure  in  the  history  of  the  conquest, 
and  whose  name  has  been,  and  is  still  so  celebrated,  not  less 
among  the  Mexicans  than  the  Spaniards." 

The  limits  of  this  introduction  forbid  our  giving  all  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  visit  of  the  Mexican  governor  to  Cortes,  but  it 
resulted  in  impressing  the  Spaniards  with  a  high  conception  of 
the  wealth  and  extent  of  the  Mexican  empire.  Cortes  was  now 
fully  resolved  to  conquer  the  country,  and  to  make  a  perma- 
nent settlement  in  it.  He  began  to  look  around  for  a  conve- 
nient situation  to  establish  a  town,  and  to  discover  a  good  harbor 
for  his  ships.  Not  satisfied  with  the  place  where  he  was,  on 
account  of  the  sandy  nature  of  the  ground,  he  despatched 
Montejo  with  two  brigantines  and  fifty  men  to  run  along  the 
coast  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  convenient  port ;  who  ac- 
cordingly proceeded  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  river  Panuco, 
without  discovering  one,  and  after  an  absence  of  three  weeks 
returned  with  this  report  ;  adding,  however,  that  he  had  met 
with  a  place  on  the  coast  that  was  sheltered  by  a  high  rock, 
which  was  the  nearest  approach  to  a  harbor  that  he  found. 
Being  informed  that  the  ground  at  this  place  (called  Chianizt- 
lan)  was  convenient  for  a  town,  having  woods  and  plains,  and 
an  abundance  of  stone  suitable  for  building,  with  excellent 
pasturage  and  tillable  land,  watered  by  two  rivers,  although 
the  harbor  was  insufficient,  Cortes  determined  to  form  a  settle- 
ment there,  and  sending  round  the  ships  he  proceeded  thither 
by  land  with  400  men  and  all  the  horses.  Before  his  de- 
parture a  deputation  of  Totonacas,  sent  by  the  lord  of  Cem- 
poal,  a  city  eight  leagues  distant,  came  to  invite  them  to  visit 
that  city,  which  was  subject  to  the  Mexicans,  but  inclined  to 
throw  off  their  yoke  ;  and  having  heard  of  the  victory  at  Ta- 


INTRODUCTION.  29 

basco,  the  cacique  was  desirous  of  forming  an  alliance  with  the 
Spaniards  for  that  purpose.  Cortes  determined  to  visit  this  city 
on  his  way  to  the  site  of  the  proposed  settlement ;  and  when 
he  had  arrived  within  three  miles  of  it,  he  was  met  by  a  depu- 
tation of  twenty  citizens,  bringing  refreshments  in  the  name  of 
the  cacique,  who  sent  an  apology  for  not  coming  himself.  The 
troops  marched  into  the  city  in  order  of  battle,  from  apprehen- 
sion of.  treachery,  and  proceeded  through  the  streets  beholding 
with  astonished  pleasure  the  beauty  and  extent  of  the  city,  so 
far  surpassing  all  they  had  before  seen  in  the  new  world.  The 
population  was  estimated  at  60,000,  and  the  Spaniards  called 
it  another  Seville. 

In  the  market-place  of  Cempoal  stood  an  immense 
building  of  stone  and  lime,  with  loopholes  and  towers,  the 
walls  whitened  with  plaster  that  glittered  like  silver  as  the  sun 
shone  upon  them.  At  first  the  Spaniards  imagined  these  walls 
to  be  composed  of  solid  silver,  but  this  error  was  soon  corrected. 
Within  this  palace  was  a  long  suite  of  apartments,  in  which 
the  Spaniards  fixed  their  quarters,  planting  the  cannon  at  the 
doors  for  security,  and  keeping  themselves  in  readiness  in 
case  of  treachery.  Their  fears  fortunately  proved  groundless  ; 
the  cacique  directed  a  splendid  supper  to  be  prepared  for  them, 
and  convenient  bedding.  The  next  morning  the  cacique  wait- 
ed upon  Cortes,  and  made  him  many  rare  and  valuable  pre- 
sents ;  amongst  these  were  cotton  garments  in  the  Egyptian 
fashion  with  a  knot  on  the  shoulder,  and  jewels  of  gold  valued 
at  two  thousand  ducats.  This  visit  was  returned  by  Cortes 
on  the  following  day  in  a  becoming  manner.  In  his  con- 
versation the  cacique  complained  loudly  of  the  oppression 
and  tyranny  of  Montezuma,  the  Mexican  ruler,  who  had  but 
lately  usurped  the  government  of  Cempoal ;  he  also  professed 
his  willingness  to  join  an  alliance  against  him.  At  the  same 
time  he  extolled  the  riches  and  magnificence  of  the  city  of 
Mexico,  planted  in  the  midst  of  a  great  lake,  and  the  splendor 
of  the  court  of  Montezuma. 

After  remaining  several  days  in  this  city,  Cortes  took  his 
leave,  and  proceeded  with  the  troops  to  Chiahuitztla  [Chian- 


30  INTRODUCTION. 

iztlan]  where  he  intended  to  found  the  new  colony.  This  was 
S<0  the  country  of  the  Totonacs,  who  had  a  small  town  situated 
near  the  site  of  the  proposed  settlement,  about  twelve  miles 
from  Cempoal.  These  Indians  were  eager  to  throw  off  the 
Mexican  yoke,  refusing  to  pay  the  customary  tribute,  and  even 
imprisoning  the  Mexican  nobles  who  had  been  sent  to  collect  it. 
They  also  assisted  the  Spaniards  in  building  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  houses  in  the  new  town,  and  constructing  a  small  for- 
tress. Before  finally  leaving  his  quarters  on  the  sea  coast 
where  he  had  landed,  Cortes  had  caused  the  officers  of  the 
proposed  town  to  be  elected  in  the  manner  customary  in 
Spain.* 

It  was  also  determined  that  the  new  town  should  receive 
the  name  of  La  Villa  Rica  de  la  Vera  Cruz,  which  was  ac- 
cordingly given  to  the  settlement  at  Chiahuitztla.  This  town 
is  sometimes  mentioned  in  the  following  letters  under  the  name 
of  Villa  Rica,  but  more  frequently  of  Vera  Cruz.t  It  was 
the  first  Spanish  colony  on  the  continent  of  North  America. 

After  the  organization  of  the  town,  Cortes  resigned  his  command 
to  the  municipal  authorities,  on  the  ground  that  Diego  Velas- 
quez from  whom   he  had  originally  received  it,  and  the  royal 

*  According  to  Gomara,  these  officers  were  appointed  by  Cortes  ;  but  Bernal 
Diaz,  who  was  present,  is  a  better  authority  in  a  matter  of  this  nature.  See 
Ward's  Mexico,  I.  73. 

t  It  seems  there  have  been  three  places  called  Vera  Cruz ;  first,  Villa  Rica  de 
la  Vera  Cruz  ;  second,  Vera  Cruz  Antigua,  founded  in  1523  or  4 ;  and  third, 
the  present  city  of  that  name,  which  was  not  settled  until  near  the  close  of  the 
16th,  or  the  beginning  of  the  17th  century.  But  the  harbor  at  the  latter  place 
was  well  known  from  the  first  under  the  name  of  San  Juan,  to  which  the  Mexi- 
can name  of  Chalchiuhecan  was  sometimes  added.  Gage,  who  visited  Mexico 
in  1625,  styles  this  place  "  St.  John  de  Ulhua,  otherwise  Vera  Crux ;"  but  the 
name  of  S.  Juan  de  Ulua  belongs  to  the  island  opposite  the  city,  on  which  stands 
the  celebrated  fortress  erected  by  the  Spanish  government  at  the  enormous  ex- 
pense (it  is  said)  of  more  than  forty  millions  of  dollars,  which  was  the  last  foot- 
hold of  Spanish  power  in  Mexico,  having  held  out  several  years  longer  than  the 
rest  of  the  country.  Its  fall  was  announced  by  the  President  of  the  Republic 
in  a  proclamation  dated  November  23d,  1825,  in  which  he  said — "  The  standard 
of  the  Republic  waves  on  the  castle  of  Ulua  !  I  announce  to  you,  fellow  citi- 
zens, with  indescribable  pleasure,  that  now,  after  the  lapse  of  304  years,  the  flag 
of  Castile  has  disappeared  from  our  coast."  Clavigero.  Humboldt.  Gage's 
New  Survey  of  the  West  Indias.     "  Mexico  in  1842,"  &c. 


INTRODUCTION.  31 

council  at  St.  Domingo  who  had  confirmed  and  enlarged  his 
powers,  were  neither  of  them  qualified  to  exercise  any  juris- 
diction in  these  newly  discovered  lands,  which  he  was  about  to 
reduce  and  colonize  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  Castile.  But 
one  of  the  first  acts  of  the  town-council  was  to  re-invest  him 
with  the  authority  of  Captain-General  and  chief  magistrate, 
until  the  pleasure  of  the  crown  was  known.  This  step,  al- 
though generally  approved  by  the  adventurers,  was  not  accep- 
table to  all ;  some,  who  were  the  partisans  of  Velasquez,  de- 
manded that  the  expedition  should  return  to  Cuba,  and  to  such 
an  extent  was  the  disaffection  carried,  that  Cortes  found  it  ne- 
cessary to  put  a  number  of  persons  under  arrest,  amongst 
whom  were  two  captains,  Juan  Velasquez  de  Leon  and  Diego 
de  Ordas  ;  who,  however,  were  afterwards  gained  over  by  per- 
suasion, and  became  his  warm  friends.  Greater  confidence 
had  been  given  to  this  faction  by  the  arrival  of  a  vessel  from 
that  island,  bringing  intelligence  that  Velasquez  had  received 
from  Spain  the  title  of  Adelantado,  with  a  commission  from 
the  crown  to  govern  and  colonize  the  newly  discovered  lands. 
But  what  was  of  greater  importance  to  Cortes,  the  same  ship 
brought  a  small  reinforcement  of  men  and  horses  to  his  little 
army,  being  already  somewhat  reduced  in  number  by  long  ex- 
posure to  the  unhealthy  atmosphere  of  the  bayous  of  the  coast, 
and  other  causes. 

While  the  Spaniards  were  busily  engaged  in  laying  out  and 
building  the  new  town,  in  which  they  were  greatly  assisted  by 
their  neighbors  the  Totonacs,  (whose  language,  differing  from 
that  of  Mexico,  was  interpreted  to  Marina  by  seme  amongst 
them  who  understood  the  Aztec,)  there  arrived  a  deputation 
from  the  capital,  consisting  of  two  nephews  of  Muteczuma, 
accompanied  by  a  numerous  retinue  of  nobles  and  others, 
bringing  a  magnificent  present  of  articles,  beautifully  wrought 
of  gold  and  other  costly  materials.  Cortes  received  them  with 
expressions  of  gratitude,  and  hospitably  entertained  the  Mexi- 
can chiefs. 

About  the  same  time,  while  on  a  visit  to  the  city  of  Cempoal, 
Cortes  endeavored  to  convince  the  cacique  of  the  absurdity  of 
the  worship  paid  to  idols,  and  to  convert  him  to  the  true  faith, 


32  INTRODUCTION. 

but  without  success.  We  cannot,  he  answered,  abjure  the 
worship  of  our  gods,  from  whose  hands  we  receive  health, 
plenty,  and  all  the  blessings  we  enjoy.  Undeterred,  however, 
by  the  attachment  which  the  people  of  Cempoal  showed  to 
their  false  deities,  Cortes  commanded  his  soldiers  to  enter  the 
temples,  and  break  down  the  idols.  In  the  mean  time,  the 
cacique,  filled  with  indignation,  threatened  to  call  down  instant 
vengeance  upon  the  heads  of  the  Spaniards,  if  they  dared  to 
execute  their  purpose.  But  when  it  was  suggested  to  him  that 
his  new  friends  would  form  an  alliance  with  the  Mexicans,  and 
take  measures  to  accomplish  his  ruin,  the  cacique  at  length  told 
Cortes  to  do  as  he  pleased,  when  fifty  Spanish  soldiers  rapidly 
ascended  the  steps  of  the  temples,  and  began  to  break  in  pieces 
the  idolatrous  images  ;  this  would  have  provoked  an  attack 
from  the  more  daring  amongst  the  people,  had  not  the  Spanish 
leader  caused  the  cacique  and  four  of  the  priests  to  be  seized, 
and  required  them  to  exercise  their  influence  in  curbing  the 
violence  of  the  excited  multitude.  He  afterwards  compelled 
the  priests  to  collect  the  fragments  of  the  idols  and  commit 
them  to  the  flames  in  his  presence,  and  introduced  the  symbols 
of  Christian  worship  into  all  their  temples.  Thus  was  idolatry 
finally  extinguished  in  Cempoal. 

Cortes  now  resolved  to  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico ;  but 
prior  to  his  departure,  he  thought  proper  to  transmit  to  his 
sovereign  an  account  of  all  that  had  occurred  to  the  expedi- 
tion. The  letter  or  despatch  containing  this  report,  is  not  now 
extant,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  comprised  all  the  particu- 
lars of  the  enterprise,  from  the  first  moment  of  his  connection 
with  it,  including  his  difficulties  with  the  governor  of  Cuba  ;  * 
its  loss  is  therefore  deeply  to  be  regretted.  At  the  same  time, 
he  forwarded  to  the  emperor  the  whole  amount  of  gold  and 
other  articles  of  value  which  had  been  procured  in  the  country, 
having  induced  the  soldiers  to  relinquish  their  share  for  this 
purpose.  Two  other  letters  were  also  written,  one  subscribed 
by  the  magistrates  of  the  new  colony,  and  the  other  by 
the   principal  officers  of  the  army,  in  which    they  requested 

*  Gora.  Cron.  c.  40, 


INTRODUCTION.  33 

his  acceptance  and  approbation  of  what  they  had  clone  in  his 
service,  and  to  confirm  the  offices  of  General  and  Chief  Judge 
conferred  by  them  on  Cortes,  whom  they  recommended  in 
terms  of  the  highest  praise.*  The  two  captains  Puertocarrero 
and  Montejo  were  deputed  to  be  the  bearers  of  the  letters  and 
presents  to  Spain,  who  accordingly  set  sail  in  the  best  ship  of 
the  squadron,  with  Alaminos  for  their  pilot,  on  the  16th  of  July, 
1519.  They  arrived  in  safety  at  St.  Lucar  in  the  following 
October  ;  but  on  information  to  the  board  of  trade  by  the  chap- 
lain of  Diego  Velasquez,  then  in  Spain,  every  thing  in  the 
ship  was  seized,  but  the  present  to  the  king  was  sent  to  him  at 
Valladolid.  The  commissioners,  accompanied  by  the  father  of 
Cortes,  succeeded  in  obtaining  an  audience  of  the  king  at 
Tordesillas,  where  the  presents  were  exhibited,  together  with 
several  native  Mexicans  of  both  sexes,  and  drew  forth  the 
admiration  of  Charles  and  all  who  beheld  them.  But  owing 
to  the  pressure  of  other  cares,  the  king  referred  the  matters  in 
dispute  between  Cortes  and  the  governor  of  Cuba  to  the  coun- 
cil of  the  Indies,  from  whom  it  passed  to  Cardinal  Adrian,  re- 
gent of  the  kingdom  during  the  emperor's  absence  in  Germany, 
and  thus  great  delays  arose  in  regard  to  a  final  determination. 
Cortes  had  a  powerful  enemy  to  contend  with  in  Spain,  who 
was  no  less  a  person  than  Fonseca,  bishop  of  Burgos,  the  pre- 
sident of-lhe  jcouncil  of  the  Indies,  to  whom  was  committed  the 
regulation  of  colonial  affairs.  This  man,  so  notorious  for  the 
spiteful  malevolence  with  which  he  thwarted  the  views  of  Co- 
lumbus, was  equally  rancorous  in  his  opposition  to  the  con- 
queror of  Mexico.  During  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years 
Fonseca  exercised  an  almost  despotic  control  over  Spanish 
American  affairs.  "  His  administration,"  says  Irving,  "  bears 
no  marks  of  enlarged  and  liberal  policy,  but  is  full  of  traits  of 
arroganee  and  meanness.  *  *  *  To  show  that  his  character 
has  not  been  judged  with  undue  severity,  it  is  expedient  to 
point  out  his  invidious  and  persecuting  conduct  towards  Her- 
nando Cortes.  The  bishop,  while  ready  to  foster  rambling  ad- 
venturers who  came  forward  under  his  patronage,  had  never 

*  Clavigero. 

5 


34  INTRODUCTION. 

the  head  or  the  heart  to  appreciate  the  merits  of  illustrious 
commanders  like  Columbus  and  Cortes."*  It  is  added  that 
personal  interest  induced  Fonseca  to  favor  Diego  Velasquez, 
between  whom  and  a  sister  of  the  bishop  a  marriage  was  ne- 
gotiating at  that  time.  Thus  every  obstacle  was  thrown  in  the 
way  of  a  just  appreciation  of  the  services  of  Cortes,  and,  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  following  Despatches,  nothing  but  the  ex- 
ercise of  the  utmost  tact  and  firmness  prevented  on  more  than 
one  occasion  his  being  arrested  in  the  midst  of  his  career  of 
conquest. 

But  at  length,  after  nearly  three  years  of  tedious  delay,  em- 
bittered by  false  and  malicious  imputations,  the  venerable 
father  of  Cortes  and  the  deputies  from  New  Spain,  having 
made  a  statement  of  their  case  to  the  Cardinal,  afterwards  Pope 
Adrian  VI.,  succeeded  in  obtaining  an  order  forbidding  the 
bishop  to  interfere  in  the  controversy  between  Cortes  and 
Velasquez,  and  revoking  as  far  as  possible  all  his  former  acts 
in  relation  to  this  matter.  This  was  soon  followed  by  a  refer- 
ence of  the  affair  to  a  special  commission,  composed  of  the 
grand  chancellor  and  other  eminent  persons,  who,  after  a  full 
hearing  on  both  sides,t  unanimously  agreed  in  awarding  a 
triumphant  verdict  in  favor  of  Cortes.  It  was  decided  that 
Velasquez  had  no  other  claim  than  for  the  money  he  had  ex- 
pended in  the  outfit  of  the  expedition  ;  but  that  by  revoking 
the  commission  he  had  granted  to  Cortes,  he  had  left  him  free 
to  act  as  he  should  judge  best  for  the  royal  service  with  the 
ships  and  men,  which  for  the  most  part  he  had  raised  and 
equipped  at  his  own  expense  and  that  of  his  friends.  This  de- 
cision was  fully  approved  by  the  emperor,  and  communicated 
to  Cortes  in  a  royal  despatch,  which  contained  likewise  infor- 
mation of  his  appointment  as  Governor  and  Captain-General 
of  New  Spain,  and  the  most  flattering  encomiums  on  his  con- 
duct.    Other  despatches  were  sent  at  the  same  time  to  Diego 

*ilLife  and  Voyages  of  Columbus."  I.  338-9. 

t  On  the  part  of  Cortes  appeared  his  father,  Martin  Cortes,  Francisco  de 
Montejo,  Francisco  Nunez,  and  other  attorneys  :  and  on  the  part  of  Velas- 
quez, Manuel  de  Roxas,  Andres  de  Duero,  and  others-    Gomara.  Cron.  c.  165. 


INTRODUCTION.  35 

Velasquez  and  Francisco  de  Garay,  censuring  their  past  pro- 
ceedings, and  commanding  them  to  desist  from  any  future 
interference  with  the  affairs  of  New  Spain.  These  despatches 
were  all  dated  the  22d  of  October,  1522.  A  more  signal 
triumph  could  not  have  been  achieved,  which,  while  it  gave 
additional  lustre  to  the  victorious  career  of  Cortes,  carried  dismay 
to  the  minds  of  his  great  opponents,  Fonseca  and  Velasquez, 
both  of  whom  died  not  long  after  in  comparative  disgrace. 

Having  thus  brought  this  preliminary  sketch  of  the  early  ex- 
peditions to  the  Mexican  coast,  and  of  the  career  of  the  con- 
queror, down  to  the  time  when  the  narrative  is  taken  up  by  his 
own  pen,  it  only  remains  to  add  a  list  of  the  principal  articles 
already  mentioned,  which  the  Spaniards  received  on  their  first 
landing  in  Mexico,  being  for  the  most  part  presents  from  Mon- 
tezuma through  his  governor  Teuthlili.  They  were  sent  to 
Charles  V.  by  the  first  commissioners  Puertocarrero  and  Mon- 
tejo,  in  1519,  and  a  description  of  them  was  soon  after  pub- 
lished by  Peter  Martyr,  the  learned  Italian  who  had  long  en- 
joyed the  confidence  of  the  Spanish  court,  and  is  well  known 
for  his  friendship  towards  Columbus,  and  the  interest  he  took  in 
his  voyages.  A  list  of  them  is  also  contained  in  Gomara's 
Chronicles  of  New  Spain.  They  consisted  of  the  following 
specimens  of  Mexican  art  and  bijouterie  : — 

A  gold  necklace  composed  of  seven  pieces,  with  a  hundred 
and  eighty-three  small  emeralds  set  in  it,  and  two  hundred  and 
thirty -two  gems  similar  to  small  rubies,  from  which  hung  twen- 
ty-seven little  bells  of  gold,  and  some  pearls. 

Another  necklace  of  four  pieces  of  gold,  with  one  hundred 
and  two  red  gems  like  small  rubies,  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
two  emeralds,  and  ten  fine  pearls  set  in  it,  with  twenty-six  little 
bells  of  gold.* 

Two  wheels,  one  of  gold  with  the  image  of  the  sun,  and  the 
other  of  silver  with  the  image  of  the  moon  upon  it ;  both  formed 
of  plates  of  those  metals,  each  twenty-eight  hands  in  circum- 

*  "  The  gems  most  common  among  the  Mexicans  were  emeralds,  amethysts,  cor- 
nelians, turquoises,  and  some  others  not  known  in  Europe.  *  *  *  When  Cortes 
returned  the  first  time  to  Spain,  (in  1528,)  he  brought  along  with  him,  amongst 


36  INTRODUCTION. 

ference,  with  various  figures  of  animals  and  other  things,  in 
basso  relievo,  finished  with  great  ingenuity  and  skill.* 

A  headpiece  of  wood  carved  with  gold,  and  adorned  with 
gems,  from  which  hung  twenty-five  little  bells  of  gold  ;  in- 
stead of  a  plume  it  had  a  green  bird  with  eyes,  beak,  and  feet 
of  gold. 

A  bracelet  of  gold.  A  little  rod  like  a  sceptre,  with  two 
rings  of  golds  at  its  extremities,  set  with  pearls. 

Four  tridents,  adorned  Avith  feathers  of  various  colors,  with 
pearl  points  tied  with  gold  thread. 

Several  shoes  of  the  skin  of  the  deer,  sewed  with  gold  thread, 
the  soles  of  which  were  made  of  blue  and  white  stones,  of  a 
brilliant  appearance. 

A  shield  of  wood  and  leather,  with  little  bells  banging  to  it, 
and  covered  with  plates  of  gold  in  the  middle,  on  which  was 
cut  the  image  of  the  god  of  war  between  four  heads  of  a  lion, 
a  tiger,  an  eagle,  and  an  owl,  represented  alive  with  their 
hair  and  feathers. 

Several  dressed  skins  of  quadrupeds  and  birds  with  their 
plumage  and  hair. 

Twenty- four  curious  and  beautiful  shields  of  gold,  of  fea- 
thers, and  veiy  small  pearls,  and  four  others  of  feathers  and  sil- 
ver only. 

Four  fishes,  two  ducks,  and  some  other  birds,  of  molten  gold. 

Two  sea-shells  of  gold,  and  a  large  crocodile  girt  with  threads 
of  gold. 

A  large  mirror  adorned  with  gold,  and  many  small  mirrors. 
Several  mitres  and  crowns  of  feathers  and  gold,  ornamented 
with  pearls  and  gems. 

other  inestimable  jewels,  five  emeralds,  which,  as  Gomara,  who  was  then  living, 
bears  testimony  were  valued  at  a  hundred  thousand  ducats,  and  for  one  of  them 
some  Genoese  merchants  offered  him  forty  thousand,  in  order  to  sell  it  again  to 
the  grand  seignior ;  and  also  two  emerald  vases,  valued  as  the  celebrated  P. 
Miariana,  [in  his  History  of  Spain,]  says,  at  300,000  ducats."  Clavigero.  These 
five  emeralds  were  exquisitely  wrought  by  the  Mexicans,  at  the  order  of  Cortes, 
into  various  forms,  and  presented  by  him  to  his  second  wife,  daughter  of  the  count 
de  Aguilar ;  jewels,  says  Gomara  who  saw  them,  superior  to  those  of  any  other 
lady  in  Spain. 

*  The  Mexicans  represented  their  divisions  of  time  by  the  figure  of  a  wheel; 
Clavigero  considers  these  to  have  been  intended  for  that  purpose. 


INTRODUCTION.  36* 

Several  large  plumes  of  beautiful  feathers  of  various  colors, 
fretted  with  gold  and  small  pearls. 

Several  fans  of  gold  and  feathers  mixed  together  ;  others  of 
feathers  only,  of  different  forms  and  sizes,  but  all  most  rich  and 
elegant.* 

A  variety  of  cotton  mantles,  some  all  white,  others  checquer- 
ed  with  white  and  black,  or  red,  green,  yellow,  and  blue  ;  on 
the  outside  rough  like  a  shaggy  cloth,  and  within  destitute  of 
color  or  nap. 

A  number  of  underwaistcoats,  handkerchiefs,  counterpanes, 
tapestries,  and  carpets,  of  cotton. 

The  workmanship  of  these  articles  is  described  by  Gomara 
as  superior  to  the  materials  of  which  they  were  composed  : 
"  the  colors  of  the  cotton  were  extremely  fine,  and  those  of  the 
feathers  natural.  In  the  art  of  casting  metals  the  Mexican 
smiths  far  excel  ours." 

But  what  seems  most  to  have  attracted  the  attention  of  Peter 
Martyr  was  the  existence  of  books  amongst  the  Mexicans,  of 
which  several  specimens  were  contained  in  the  list  of  presents. 
He  compares  them  to  tablets  made  to  fold  together,  consisting 
of  a  great  number  of  leaves,  which  being  connected  might 
be  stretched  out  to  a  considerable  length.  The  characters 
were  entirely  unlike  those  of  the  European  languages,  but  re- 
sembled Egyptian  hieroglyphics.f  The  paper,  he  says,  was 
made  of  the  inner  bark  of  a  certain  tree,  bruised  in  a  mortar, 
and  mixed  with  a  species  of  gum  ;  but  according  to  Gomara,  it 
was  formed  of  cotton  and  a  species  of  paste,  and  sometimes  of 
the  leaves  of  the  Metl,  or  American  aloe.|  A  more  modern 
writer,  Clavigero,  remarks,  that  he  had  seen  several  sheets  of 

*  Count  Carli,  the  celebrated  author  of  "  Lettere  Americane,"  published  at 
Florence,  has  the  following  description  of  a  Mexican  fan  : — "  I  saw,"  he  says, 
"  at  Strasburgh,  in  1760,  in  the  possession  of  Father  Le  Fevre,  a  Jesuit,  and  a 
man  of  great  respectability,  a  very  ancient  Mexican  fan,  made  of  linen  [cotton] 
as  fine  as  the  most  beautiful  muslin  known.  On  it  were  depicted  a  number  of 
figures  forming  a  mosaic.  Never  have  I  beheld  any  thing  so  beautiful,  both  for 
the  art  with  which  the  native  and  splendid  colors  of  the  feathers  were  disposed, 
and  for  the  beauty  of  the  design.    No  artist  in  Europe  could  have  done  as  well." 

t  "Sunt  characteres  a  nostris  valde  dissimiles ;  *  *  *  ^Egyptias  fere  formas 
semulantur."     "De  Insulis  nuper  inventis,"  &c.  p.  11.     (Printed  in  1521.) 

t  Agave  Americana. 


36f  INTRODUCTION. 

Mexican  paper,  which  was  similar  to  the  pasteboard  of  Europe, 
but  softer,  smoother,  and  easy  for  writing. 

In  addition  to  these  works  of  art,  the  deputies  were  accom- 
panied in  their  mission  to  Spain  by  four  Mexican  nobles  and 
two  native  women,  who  were  exhibited  to  the  emperor,  and 
excited  much  interest.  They  are  described  by  Martyr,  who 
saw  them,  as  being  of  a  brownish  color,  ("  suffusca  gens,'''')  and 
having  jewels  set  in  gold  pendant  from  their  ears  ;  the  men 
wearing  besides  similar  ornaments  suspended  by  an  aperture 
through  the  nether  lip  The  latter  fashion  he  chracterizes  as 
most  unseemly,  although  the  Indians  regarded  it  as  highly  be- 
coming. This  interview  took  place  at  Tordesillas,  in  the  north 
of  Spain  ;  and  the  emperor  with  great  consideration  directed 
the  Mexicans  to  be  taken  to  Seville  in  the  south,  where  they 
would  be  less  exposed  to  a  change  of  climate. 


LETTER  II. 
THE  SECOND  LETTER  OR  RELATION 

SENT    TO 

HIS  MAJESTY  THE  EMPEROR, 

BY   THE 

CAPTAIN     GENERAL    OF    NEW    SPAIN, 

HERNANDO    CORTES, 

In  which  he  describes  innumerable  provinces  and  lands  which  have  been 
lately  discovered  in  Yucatan. 

J.  Cromberger.     Sevilla,  1532. 


LETTERS  OR  DESPATCHES 


HERNANDO    CORTES, 


EMPEROR    CHARLES    V 


LETTER  II. 

Dated  at  Segura  de  la  Frontera,  {Mexico,)  Oct.  80th,  1520, 

Most  Noble,  Powerful  and  Catholic  Prince, 

Invincible  Emperor,  and  our  Sovereign  Lord : 

By  a  ship  that  I  despatched  from  this  New  Spain 
of  your  Sacred  Majesty,  on  the  sixteenth  of  July,  in  the 
year  1519,  I  transmitted  to  your  Highness  a  very  full 
and  particular  report  of  what  had  occurred  from  the 
time  of  my  arrival  in  this  country  to  that  date  ;  which  I 
sent  by  the  hands  of  Alonso  Hernandez  Puertocarrero 
and  Francisco  de  Montejo,  deputies  of  La  Rica  Villa  de 
la  Vera  Cruz,  the  town  I  had  founded  in  your  Majesty's 
name.  Since  that  time,  from  want  of  opportunity,  and 
being  constantly  engaged  in  making  conquests  and  esta- 
blishing peace,  having  no  ships,  nor  any  intelligence  from 
the  one  I  had  sent,  or  the  deputies,  I  have  not  been  able 
till  now  to  give  your  Majesty  a  further  account  of  our 
operations ;  from  which  God  knows  how  much  pain  I 

6 


38  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

have  suffered.  I  have  been  desirous  that  your  Highness 
should  be  informed  concerning  the  affairs  of  this  country, 
because,  as  I  have  already  mentioned  in  my  former  re- 
lation, such  are  its  extent  and  importance,  that  the  pos- 
session of  it  would  authorize  your  Majesty  to  assume 
anew  the  title  of  Emperor,  which  it  is  no  less  worthy  of 
conferring  than  Germany  itself,  which,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  you  already  possess.  But  a  detailed  account  of 
whatever  presents  itself  deserving  observation  in  these 
new  regions  would  be  almost  endless ;  and  I  must  beg 
your  Majesty's  pardon  if  my  relation  is  less  complete 
than  it  should  be,  owing  to  my  want  of  ability,  and  the 
peculiar  circumstances  in  which  I  am  now  placed.  I 
shall  nevertheless  use  my  best  efforts  to  relate  the  truth 
as  nearly  as  possible,  and  to  inform  }rour  Majesty  of  what 
it  is  important  at  the  present  juncture  you  should  know. 
I  must  also  entreat  your  Majesty's  pardon  if  I  should  not 
mention  every  circumstance  of  any  weight,  or  fail  to  give 
with  great  exactness  the  time  and  manner  in  which 
events  may  have  occurred ;  or  should  I  make  mistakes 
in  the  names  of  the  cities  and  towns,  as  well  as  pro- 
vinces, that  have  professed  their  allegiance  to  your 
Majesty,  and  acknowledged  themselves  your  subjects 
and  vassals.  For,  in  consequence  of  a  disaster  that  has 
recently  happened,  of  which  I  shall  hereafter  give  your 
Highness  a  full  account,  I  have  lost  all  my  papers,  in- 
cluding the  official  records  of  my  proceedings  with  the 
inhabitants  of  these  countries,  and  many  other  things. 

In  my  former  despatch,  Most  Excellent  Prince,  I  gave 
a  list  of  the  cities  and  towns  that  had  to  that  time  volun- 
tarily submitted  to  your  authority,  together  with  those 
I  had  reduced  by  conquest.  I  also  mentioned  having 
received  information  from  the  natives  of  a  certain  great 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO,  39 

Lord,  called  Muteczuma,*  who,  according  to  their  com- 
putation of  distances,  dwelt  ninety  or  a  hundred  leagues 
from  the  coast  and  the  port  where  I  had  disembarked ; 
and  that,  trusting  in  the  greatness  of  God,  and  the  con- 
fidence inspired  by  the  royal  name  of  your  Highness,  I 
proposed  to  go  and  see  him  wherever  he  might  be.     I 
also  recollect  having  engaged  to  do  more  than  was  in 
my  power  in  regard  to  the  demand  I  intended  to  make 
of  this  personage  ;  for  I  assured  your  Highness  that  he 
should  be  taken  either  dead  or  alive,  or  become  a  subject 
to  the  royal  throne  of  your  Majesty.     With  this  deter- 
mination I  departed  from  the  city  of  Cempoal,  to  which 
I  gave  the  name  of  Sevilla,  on  the  16th  of  August,  with 
fifteen  horse  and  three  hundred  infantry,  all  in  the  best 
condition  for  war  in  which  I  was  able,  or  the  time  per- 
mitted me  to  render  them.     I  left  in  the  town  of  Vera 
Cruz  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  and  two  horses,  occupied 
in  building  a  fort,  which  was  already  nearly  finished  ; 
and  I  also  left  the  whole  province  of  Cempoal,  and  all 
the  mountainous  region  adjacent  to  the  town,  containing 
fifty  thousand  warriors,  and  fifty  towns  and  fortresses, 
in  peace  and  security,  and  firm  in  their  allegiance  to 
your  Majesty,  as  they  have   remained  to  the   present 
time.f     Although  they  were  subjects  of  Muteczuma,  yet 
according  to  the  information  I  received,  they  had  been 
reduced  to  that  condition  by  force,  within  a  short  period ; 
and  when  they  had  obtained  through  me  some  knowledge 
of  your  Highness,  and  of  your  great  regal  power,  they 
declared  their  desire  to  become  vassals  of  your  Majesty, 

*  Thus  the  name  is  uniformly  written  by  Cortes. 

t  Cempoal  still  retains  the  same  name  ;  it  is  situated  four  leagues  from  Vera 
Cruz,  and  the  extent  of  its  ruins  indicates  its  former  greatness.  It  must  not  be 
confounded  with  another  Zempoal,  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Archbishop  of  Mexico, 
twelve  leagues  distant  from  the  former. — L. 


40  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

and  to  form  an  alliance  with  me.  They  also  begged  me 
to  protect  them  against  that  mighty  Lord,  who  used  vio- 
lent and  tyrannical  measures  to  keep  them  in  subjection, 
and  took  from  them  their  sons  to  be  slain  and  offered  as 
sacrifices  to  his  idols ;  with  many  other  complaints 
against  him,  in  order  to  avoid  whose  tyranny  they  em- 
braced the  service  of  your  Majesty,  to  which  they  have 
so  far  proved  faithful,  and  I  doubt  not  will  continue  so, 
since  they  have  been  uniformly  treated  by  me  with  favor 
and  attention.  Nevertheless,  for  the  better  security  of 
our  people  who  remained  at  Vera  Cruz,  I  took  with  me 
several  of  their  principal  men,  and  some  of  an  inferior 
order,  who  have  been  of  no  little  service  to  me  on  my 
route. 

I  informed  your  Majesty,  I  believe,  in  my  former  des- 
patch, that  some  of  those  persons  that  accompanied  me,  who 
had  been  servants  and  friends  of  Diego  Velazquez,  were  jea- 
lous of  what  I  had  accompli  shed  in  the  service  of  your  High- 
ness ;  and  even  sought  to  create  disaffection  in  our  ranks, 
and  compel  me  to  abandon  the  country.  The  leaders 
in  this  business  were  four  Spaniards,  namely  :  Juan 
Escudero,  Diego  Cermefio,  a  pilot,  Gonzalo  de  Ungria, 
also  a  pilot,  and  Alonso  Penate,  who,  as  they  voluntarily 
confessed,  had  determined  to  seize  a  brigantine  then  in 
port,  put  on  board  a  large  quantity  of  bread  and  pork, 
and  after  killing  the  master,  to  sail  for  the  island  of  Fer- 
nandina,  [Cuba,]  for  the  purpose  of  informing  Diego 
Velazquez  that  I  had  despatched  a  ship  to  your  Majesty, 
with  the  names  of  those  who  had  sailed  in  it,  and  the 
route  it  had  taken,  to  enable  him  to  send  vessels  in  pur- 
suit and  capture  it.  This  he  afterwards  attempted  ;  as  I 
have  been  informed  that  he  despatched  a  caravel  after 
the  ship,  which  he  would  have  taken  if  it  had  not  passed 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.'  41 

on  the  outside.*  They  also  confessed  that  others  had 
been  desirous  of  sending  information  to  Diego  Velazquez. 
Upon  their  confessions,  I  punished  the  delinquents  as  jus- 
tice, the  necessity  of  the  case,  and  the  service  of  your 
Highness  required.  But  besides  those  who  from  having 
been  the  servants  and  friends  of  Velazquez  wished  to 
leave  the  country,  there  were  others  that  entered  into  the 
same  views,  on  beholding  the  great  number  and  power 
of  the  people  of  the  country,  while  the  Spaniards  were 
so  few  and  inconsiderable.  Believing,  therefore,  that 
if  I  left  the  ships  there  they  would  mutiny,  and  all  be 
induced  to  depart,  leaving  me  almost  alone,  and  by  this 
means  the  great  service  rendered  to  God  and  your  Majes- 
ty be  made  of  no  avail ;  I  determined,  under  the  pretext 
that  the  ships  were  not  seaworthy,  to  cause  them  to  be 
stranded  on  the  coast ;  thus  taking  away  all  hope  of  leav- 
ing the  country,  I  pursued  my  route  with  greater  feelings 
of  security,  having  no  fears  that  after  our  backs  were 
turned  the  people  I  had  left  at  Vera  Cruz  would  desert 
me. 

Eight  or  ten  days  after  the  ships  were  stranded,  hav- 
ing gone  from  Vera  Cruz  towards  the  city  of  Cempoal, 
which  is  four  leagues  distant,  in  order  to  proceed  from 
thence  on  my  route,  I  received  intelligence  from  the 
former  place  that  four  ships  had  arrived  on  the  coast,  and 
that  the  captain  I  had  left  in  command  there  had  gone  out 
to  them  in  a  boat,  when  he  was  told  they  belonged  to 
Francisco  de  Garay,  Lieutenant  and  Governor  of  the 
island  of  Jamaica,  and  had  come  on  a  voyage  of  dis- 
covery. The  captain  informed  them  that  I  had  founded 
a  colony  in  the  country,  in  the  name  of  your  Highness, 

*  That  is,  to  the  north  of  Cuba,  through  the  Bahama  Channel, 


42  LETTERS    OP    CORTES. 

and  built  a  town  one  league  from  where  the  ships  lay  ; 
adding  that  he  would  accompany  them  to  the  place  and 
apprise  me  of  their  arrival ;  and  that  if  their  ships  were 
in  want  of  repairs,  they  could  be  made  in  the  harbor,  to 
which  he  would  pilot  them  in  his  boat ;  at  the  same  time 
pointing  out  where  it  was.  They  replied,  that  they  had 
already  seen  the  harbor,  having  passed  before  it,  and 
would  do  as  he  suggested.  The  captain  then  returned 
with  his  boat,  but  the  ships  had  not  followed,  nor  entered 
the  harbor ;  they  had,  however,  sailed  along  the  coast, 
and  the  captain  was  at  a  loss  to  know  their  design  ;  he 
had,  therefore,  made  me  acquainted  with  the  circum- 
stances. I  immediately  returned  to  Vera  Cruz,  where  I 
learned  that  the  ships  lay  at  anchor  on  the  coast  three 
leagues  below,  and  that  no  one  had  landed  from  them. 
I  then  went  down  to  the  shore  with  a  number  of  men  to 
reconnoitre  the  ships,  and  having  got  within  about  a 
league  of  them  I  met  three  of  their  men,  amongst  whom 
was  one  that  styled  himself  a  notary ;  he  had  taken  the 
other  two  with  him,  as  he  told  me,  to  witness  a  certain 
notification  which  the  captain  required  him  to  serve  on 
me,  and  which  he  had  brought  there  for  the  purpose,  set- 
ting forth  a  certain  claim  on  his  part ;  the  substance  of 
it  was,  that  he  had  discovered  this  country  and  intended 
to  colonize  it ;  he  therefore  required  that  I  should  estab- 
lish with  him  a  line  of  demarcation ;  and  that  he  pro- 
posed to  make  a  settlement  at  a  place  five  leagues  down 
the  coast  near  the  former  Nautical,  a  city  twelve  leagues 
from  Vera  Cruz,  now  called  Almeria. 

I  answered,  that  the  captain  must  come  with  his  ships 
to  the  port  of  Vera  Cruz,  where  we  would  talk  together, 
and  I  should  understand  better  the  purpose  he  had  in 
view  :  that  if  he  was  in  want  of  any  thing  for  his  ships 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  43 

or  men,  I  would  supply  him  as  far  as  it  was  in  my 
power;  and  since  he  had  declared  that  he  had  come 
in  the  service  of  your  Sacred  Majesty,  I  added  that  I 
desired  nothing  more  than  to  promote  the  service  of  your 
Highness  to  the  utmost  extent  of  my  ability,  and  that  by 
aiding  him  I  believed  I  should  do  so.  They  replied, 
that  neither  their  captain  nor  any  of  his  people  could  be 
induced  to  come  on  shore  at  any  place  where  I  might 
be.  Believing  that  they  must  have  done  some  wrong 
in  the  country,  as  they  feared  to  come  into  my  presence, 
as  soon  as  it  was  dark  I  took  a  position  in  the  most 
secret  manner  near  the  sea-coast,  opposite  where  the 
ships  rode  at  anchor,  and  there  I  remained  until  nearly 
the  middle  of  the  next  day,  expecting  the  captain  or 
pilot  to  come  on  shore,  from  whom  I  might  ascertain 
what  they  had  done,  and  what  places  they  had  visited, 
intending  if  I  discovered  that  they  had  been  guilty  of  any 
illegal  acts,  to  send  them  to  your  Sacred  Majesty ;  but 
neither  they  nor  any  other  persons  landed  from  the  ships. 
Finding  that  they  would  not  come  on  shore,  I  caused  the 
men  who  had  sought  to  serve  me  with  the  notification,  to 
exchange  clothes  with  the  same  number  of  Spaniards  in 
my  party,  and  I  sent  the  latter  to  the  shore,  and  directed 
them  to  call  aloud  to  the  ships.  As  soon  as  they  were 
discovered,  a  boat  containing  ten  or  twelve  men,  armed 
with  cross-bows  and  handguns,  came  to  land,  and  the 
Spaniards  who  had  called  to  them,  withdrew  from  the 
shore  behind  some  bushes  that  grew  about  there,  as  if 
for  shade.  Four  men  leaped  on  shore  from  the  boat,  two 
cross-bowmen,  and  two  musketeers,  who  were  imme- 
diately surrounded  by  the  Spaniards,  and  taken  prisoners. 
One  of  them  was  master  of  a  ship,  who  applied  the 
match  to  his  handgun  and  would  have  slain  the  captain 


44  LETTERS   OF    COTtTES. 

that  had  been  stationed  by  me  at  Vera  Cruz,  if  it  had 
not  pleased  our  Lord  that  the  match  should  not  give  fire. 
The  men  who  remained  in  the  boat  put  off  from  the  shore, 
but  before  they  reached  the  ships  the  sails  were  already 
set,  without  waiting  for  them,  or  those  on  board  desiring 
to  know  what  had  become  of  them.  I  was  informed  by 
the  prisoners  I  had  taken,  that  they  had  reached  a  river 
thirty  leagues  along  the  coast,  after  passing  Almeria, 
where  they  had  met  with  a  favorable  reception  from  the 
natives,  who  supplied  them  with  provisions  in  the  way 
of  barter ;  and  that  they  had  seen  some  gold  which  the 
Indians  brought,  although  in  small  quantities  :  they  ob- 
tained in  all  about  3000  castellanos  of  gold*  in  trade. 
That  they  did  not  land  upon  the  coast,  but  approached 
the  towns  on  the  banks  of  the  river  so  near  as  to  be  able 
to  distinguish  the  people  from  the  ships.  That  they  had 
no  stone  edifices,  but  all  their  houses  were  of  thatch, 
excepting  that  the  ground  on  which  they  were  built  was 
raised  to  a  considerable  height  by  the  labor  of  the  hand. 
All  of  this  I  subsequently  learned  more  fully  from  the 
great  Lord  Muteczuma,  and  from  certain  interpreters  of 
that  country  that  he  had  with  him ;  whom,  together  with 
an  Indian  brought  in  those  ships  from  that  river,  and 
taken  prisoner  by  me,  I  sent  with  other  messengers  from 
Muteczuma,  that  they  might  induce  the  sovereign  of  the 
river,  which  is  called  Panuco,  to  enter  the  service  of 
your  Sacred  Majesty.  And  he  sent  them  back  to  me 
with  a  principal  person,  or  as  they  termed  him,  the  Lord 
of  a  town  ;  who  gave  me  on  his  part  certain  cloth,  pre- 
cious stones,  and  feather-work,  and  said  that  he  and  all 
his  people  were  willing  to  be  the  subjects  of  your  Majesty 
and  my  allies.     I  made  him  presents  of  various  articles 

*  The  castellano  is  an  ancient  Spanish  coin,  about  $2  75  in  value. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  4$ 

from  Spain,  with  which  he  was  greatly  pleased,  so  much 
so,  that  when  he  saw  other  ships  of  the  abovementioned 
Francisco  de  Garay,  (of  whom  I  shall  hereafter  give 
your  Majesty  some  account,)  the  said  Lord  of  Panuco 
sent  to  inform  me  that  those  ships  were  in  another  river, 
five  or  six  days  journey  from  thence ;  at  the  same  time 
he  gave  them  to  understand  that  if  the  persons  in  the 
ships  were  countrymen  of  mine,  he  would  give  them 
whatever  they  wanted  ;  and  accordingly  carried  them 
some  women,  together  with  chickens  and  other  articles 
of  food. 

I  was  three  days,  most  powerful  Sire,  in  passing  through 
the  country  and  dominion  of  Cempoal,  where  I  was  well 
received  and  hospitably  entertained  by  all  the  inhabitants. 
On  the  fourth  day  I  entered  a  province  called  Sienchima- 
len,  in  which  there  is  a  very  strong  town,  occupying  a  com- 
manding situation  on  one  side  of  a  rocky  sierra,  accessi- 
ble only  by  a  single  passage,  which  it  is  impossible  to 
penetrate  except  on  foot,  and  even  then  with  great  diffi- 
culty if  the  natives  should  wish  to  defend  the  pass.  In 
the  open  country  there  are  many  villages  and  hamlets, 
consisting  of  two,  three,  or  five  hundred  families,  which 
contain  altogether  five  or  six  thousand  warriors ;  and  these 
are  under  the  authority  of  Muteczuma.  They  received 
me  here  very  favorably,  and  supplied  in  the  most  liberal 
manner  the  necessary  provision  for  my  route.  At  the 
same  time  they  informed  me  that  they  knew  I  was  going  to 
see  Muteczuma  their  sovereign,  and  added  that  he  was 
certainly  my  friend,  having  sent  them  instructions  to  give 
me  a  good  reception,  as  in  so  doing  they  would  promote 
his  service.  I  made  a  suitable  acknowledgment  of  their 
civility,  saying  that  your  Majesty  had  possessed  some 
knowledge  of  Muteczuma,  and  had  ordered  me  to  visit 

7 


46  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

him,  but  that  I  was  going  for  no  other  purpose  than  to 
see  him.  And  then  I  entered  a  mountain  pass  which  is 
at  the  extremity  of  this  province,  to  which  we  gave  the 
name  of  the  Pass  of  the  Name  of  God,*  as  it  was  the  first 
we  had  met  with  in  this  region.  It  is  so  rough  and  steep 
that  there  is  not  one  so  difficult  in  all  Spain.  I  went 
through  it  in  safety  and  without  encountering  any  ob- 
struction. At  its  foot  there  are  other  hamlets,  belonging 
to  a  town  and  fort  called  Ceyconacan,t  which  was  also 
subject  to  Muteczuma.  We  were  equally  well  received 
here  as  at  Sienchimalen ;  and  the  people  told  us,  as  the 
others  had  done,  that  such  was  the  pleasure  of  Mutec- 
zuma. *  I  made  them  also  a  similar  acknowledgment  for 
their  kindness. 

From  thence  I  travelled  three  days  through  a  coun- 
try destitute  of  inhabitants,  and,  indeed,  scarcely  habit- 
able on  account  of  the  sterility  of  the  soil,  the  want 
of  water,  and  the  coldness  of  the  climate  ;  God  knows 
how  much  our  people  suffered  there  from  hunger  and 
thirst,  especially  during  a  violent  storm  of  hail  and  rain 
which  we  encountered,  when  I  thought  many  would 
perish  with  cold.  We  had  already  lost  several  Indians 
from  the  island  of  Fernandina,  [Cuba,]  who  were  not 
well  clothed.  At  the  end  of  these  three  days  we  met 
with  another  mountain  pass,|  not,  however,  so  steep  as 
the  former,  and  at  its  summit  there  was  a  tower,  small 
almost  as  an  oratory,  and  which  contained  several  idols, 
and  around  it  were  more  than  a  thousand  cart-loads  of  wood 
compactly  arranged,  on  account  of  which  we  gave  it  the 
name  of  the  Pass  of  Wood.  Below  this  pass,  between 
very  rough  mountains,  there  was  a  populous  valley,  whose 

*  El  Puerto  del  Nombre  de  Dios.         t  Now  Yshuacan  de  los  Reyes. — L. 
J  Supposed  to  be  Sierra  del  Agua. — L. 


CONQUEST    OP   MEXICO-  47 

inhabitants  seemed  to  be  poor;  and  after  having  marched 
two  leagues  through  their  country  without  knowing  any- 
thing of  them,  I  reached  a  place  somewhat  more  level, 
whe  re  the  Lord  of  the  Valley  appeared  to  have  his  resi- 
dence, as  the  houses  were  larger  and  better  built  than 
any  we  had  before  met  with  in  the  country,  being  al\ 
composed  of  hewn  stone  and  apparently  new ;  and  they 
contained  many  very  large  and  handsome  halls  and 
apartments  elegantly  finished.  The  people  and  valley 
were  called  Caltanmi.  I  was  well  received  and  lodged 
here  by  the  lord  and  his  people.  After  having  addressed 
him  on  the  part  of  your  Majesty,  and  stated  the  cause  of 
my  coming  into  these  parts,  I  inquired  of  him  if  he  was 
a  subject  of  Muteczuma,  or  whether  he  belonged  to  an- 
other jurisdiction.  He  answered  as  if  astonished  at  my 
question,  by  asking,  "Who  is  not  a  subject  of  Muteczu- 
ma ?"  As  much  as  to  say  that  he  was  the  sovereign  of 
the  world.  I  replied  by  describing  the  great  power  and 
wide  sway  of  your  Majesty,  to  whom  many  other  sove- 
reigns more  powerful  than  Muteczuma  were  subject, 
esteeming  it  for  their  advantage  to  be  so  ;  and  that  thus 
Muteczuma  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  country  would 
find  it  to  be  ;  that  this  would  be  required  of  them,  and 
should  they  yield  obedience,  they  would  be  honored  and 
favored  ;  if  not,  they  would  be  punished.  And  in  order 
that  I  might  have  some  evidence  of  his  homage,  I  request- 
ed him  to  furnish  me  with  some  gold  that  I  might  send 
it  to  your  Majesty.  He  replied  that  he  had  gold,*  but 
he  must  receive  the   orders  of  Muteczuma  before  he 


*  The  gold  that  the  Indians  sent  in  small  quantities  as'a  tribute  to  their  sove- 
reign, was  obtained  by  them  from  the  sands  of  the  rivers,  or  collected  from 
the  surface  of  the  earth ;  but  the  process  of  working  the  mines  as  practised  at 
the  present  day,  was  introduced  by  the  Spaniards. — L. 


48  LETTERS    OP   CORTES. 

parted  with  it;  and  if  he  commanded  him  he  would  give 
me  the  gold,  his  own  person,  and  whatever  else  he  pos- 
sessed. In  order  not  to  compromise  myself  nor  throw 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  my  designs  or  my  journey,  I  dis- 
sembled as  well  as  I  could,  and  remarked  to  him  that  he 
would  soon  receive  orders  from  Muteczuma  to  give  me 
the  gold,  and  whatever  else  he  had. 

There  came  to  meet  me  here  two  other  Caciques, 
whose  lands  were  in  the  same  valley,  the  one  four 
leagues  below,  and  the  cither  two  leagues  above.  They 
gave  me  several  chains  of  gold  of  small  weight  and 
value,  and  seven  or  eight  slaves.  Leaving  them  very 
well  satisfied,  I  set  off,  after  having  remained  there  four 
or  five  days,  and  arrived  at  the  residence  of  the  Cacique 
mentioned  as  being  two  leagues  distant  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  valley  ;  it  is  called  Yztecmastitan.*  The  domains 
of  this  man  are  covered  with  inhabitants  for  three  or  four 
leagues  without  interruption,  and  are  situated  along  the 
level  ground  of  the  valley  on  the  banks  of  a  small  river 
that  flows  through  it.  His  residence  stands  on  a  lofty 
eminence,  protected  by  a  larger  fortress  than  is  found  in 
half  of  Spain,  which  is  well  defended  by  walls,  barba- 
cans  and  moats  ;  on  the  summit  of  this  high  ground  there 
is  a  population  of  five  or  six  thousand,  dwelling  in  good 
houses,  and  a  somewhat  richer  people  than  those  who  in- 
habit the  valley  below.  Here,  likewise,  I  was  well  re- 
ceived, and  the  Cacique  told  me  that  he  was  a  vassal  of 
Muteczuma.  I  remained  here  three  days,  as  well  to  re- 
cruit from  the  effects  of  our  journey  through  the  desert 
country,  as  to  wait  for  four  messengers,  natives  of  Cem- 
poal,  that  had  accompanied  me,  whom  I  had  sent  from 
Caltanmi  to  a  very  extensive  province  called  Tascalteca,t 

*  Now  called  Yxtacamaxtillan. — i,.  t  Now  Tlascala. 


CONQUEST   OF   MEXICO.  49 

which  they  informed  me  was  near  this  place,  as  it  proved 
to  be.  I  had  also  been  informed  by  them  that  the  natives 
of  this  province  were  their  allies,  but  deadly  enemies  of 
Muteczuma ;  and  they  desired  me  to  form  an  alliance 
with  them,  because  they  were  a  numerous  and  powerful 
nation.  Their  country,  they  also  added,  bordered  upon 
that  of  Muteczuma  throughout  its  whole  extent,  with 
whom  they  were  constantly  at  war ;  and  it  was  thought 
they  would  be  pleased  with  me,  and  take  my  part  in 
case  Muteczuma  should  endeavor  to  get  the  advantage 
of  me.  The  messengers  did  not  return  during  the  eight 
days  that  I  remained  in  the  valley,  and  I  asked  some 
other  Cempoallans  who  accompanied  me  why  they  did 
not  return  ?  They  answered  that  the  place  must  be  very 
far  off,  and  that  they  could  not  get  back  yet  on  account 
of  the  distance.  Seeing  that  they  did  not  arrive,  and 
being  assured  b}7-  several  leading  Cempoallans  of  the 
friendship  and  protection  of  the  people  of  that  province, 
I  resolved  to  set  out  on  my  way  thither. 


On  leaving  the  valley,  I  met  with  a  large  wall  of  dry 
stone  about  nine  feet  in  height,  which  extended  across 
the  valley  from  one  mountain  to  the  other ;  it  was  twenty 
feet  in  thickness  and  surmounted  throughout  its  whole 
extent  by  a  breastwork  a  foot  and  a  half  thick,  to  enable 
them  to  fight  from  the  top  of  the  wall.  There  was  but 
one  entrance,  about  ten  paces  wide,  where  one  portion 
of  the  wall  was  encircled  by  the  other,  in  the  manner  of 


50  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

a  ravelin,  for  about  forty  paces.  Thus  the  entrance  was 
circuitous,  and  not  direct.  Having  inquired  the  object 
of  this  wall,  I  was  informed  that  it  was  erected  on  ac- 
count of  this  place  being  the  frontiers  of  the  province  of 
Tascalteca,  [Tlascala,]  whose  inhabitants  were  enemies 
of  Muteczuma  and  always  at  war  with  him.*  The  na- 
tives of  this  valley  begged  me,  since  I  was  going  to  visit 
Muteczuma  their  sovereign,  that  I  would  not  pass  through 
the  territory  of  his  enemies,  as  perchance  they  might 
prove  unfriendly  and  do  me  much  injury ;  and  promised 
to  conduct  me  through  the  dominions  of  Muteczuma 
without  at  any  time  leaving  his  jurisdiction,  where  we 
should  be  always  well  received.  But  the  Cempoallans 
bade  me  do  no  such  thing ;  assuring  me  that  they  had 
given  this  advice  in  order  to  divert  me  from  the  friend- 
ship of  that  province ;  and  that  the  people  of  Muteczuma 
were  all  of  a  designing  and  treacherous  character,  and 
would  lead  me  into  places  from  which  I  should  be  un- 
able to  extricate  myself.  I  followed  the  advice  of  the 
Cempoallans,  as  I  had  formed  a  more  favorable  opinion 
of  them  than  of  the  others  ;  and,  accordingly,  I  pursued 
the  route  to  Tascalteca,  proceeding  with  all  the  caution 
in  my  power.  Taking  six  horsemen,  I  rode  in  advance 
half  a  league  and  more  ;  not  thinking  of  what  I  was 
about  to  encounter,  but  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering 
the  country,  and  ascertaining  if  there  was  any  obstacle 
to  my  progress,  that  I  might  have  time  to  concert  the 
necessary  measures  and  get  the  people  in  readiness. 

*  The  length  of  this  wall  was  six  miles.  Bernal  Dias  says,  that  the  stones  of 
which  it  was  composed  were  united  by  a  bitumen  so  strong  that  it  was  necessa- 
ry to  use  pick-axes  to  separate  them.    See  also  Clavigero,  book  vii.  sec.  26. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  61 


CHAPTER  II. 

After  having  advanced  four  leagues,  as  we  approach- 
ed a  hill  two  of  the  horsemen  who  rode  before  me  espied 
several  Indians  wearing  plumes,  as  was  their  custom  in 
war,  and  provided  with  swords  and  shields,  who  as  soon 
as  they  discovered  the  horsemen  began  to  fly.  When  I 
had  come  up,  I  ordered  them  to  be  called  back,  with  the  as- 
surance that  they  might  return  and  have  nothing  to  fear. 
I  went  towards  them  and  found  there  were  fifteen  In- 
dians, who,  closing  together,  began  to  handle  their  wea- 
pons and  call  out  to  the  rest  of  their  people  who  were  in 
the  valley  ;  and  they  fought  with  such  determination  that 
they  finally  killed  two  of  our  horses  and  wounded  three 
others,  together  with  two  horsemen.  Thereupon  the 
others  sallied  forth,  to  the  number  of  four  or  five  thou- 
sand Indians.     Eight  of  the  cavalry  had  already  joined 

me,  exclusive  of  those  whose  horses  had  been  killed,  and 

...  f 

we  continued  the  conflict  until  reinforced  by  the  Span- 
iards, for  whom  I  had  despatched  one  of  the  horsemen. 
In  the  mean  time  we  had  done  them  some  injury,  having 
killed  fifty  or  sixty  of  their  number  without  any  corres- 
ponding loss  on  our  part,  although  they  fought  with  great 
courage  and  spirit ;  but  as  we  were  all  on  horseback  we 
attacked  them  with  safety  to  ourselves,  and  fell  back  in 
the  same  manner.  When  they  saw  our  reinforcement  ap- 
proaching they  retired,  although  our  number  was  small, 
and  left  us  in  possession  of  the  field.  After  they  had 
gone,  there  came  several  messengers,  who  informed  us 
that  they  were  the  rulers  of  this  province ;  they  were 
also  accompanied  by  two  of  the  messengers  that  I  had 


62  tETTEKS   OF    CORTES. 

sent,  who  assured  me  that  these  men  knew  nothing  of 
what  had  taken  place  ;  that  it  had  proceeded  from  the 
common  people,  who  had  acted  without  authority  from 
them  ;  and  that  they  were  grieved  and  would  pay  for 
the  horses  that  had  been  killed,  being  desirous  of  be- 
coming our  friends ;  and  that  we  should  be  well  received 
by  them  as  soon  as  an  opportunity  offered.  I  answered 
them  that  I  acknowledged  their  kindness  and  would  con- 
sider them  as  friends,  and  proceed  according  to  their  ad- 
vice. The  same  night  I  was  compelled  to  sleep  on  the 
banks  of  a  rivulet,  one  league  in  advance  of  the  battle- 
ground, both  on  account  of  the  lateness  of  the  hour  and 
the  fatigue  of  the  troops.  I  remained  there  with  the  ut- 
most caution,  stationing  a  watch  and  guard  both  of  horse 
and  foot  until  it  was  daylight,  when  I  took  up  the  line  of 
march,  having  placed  in  order  of  battle  the  vanguard 
and  main  body,  preceded  by  the  runners.  Having 
reached  a  small  settlement  just  as  the  sun  was  rising, 
the  two  other  messengers  came  in  with  lamentations, 
saying  that  they  had  been  bound  for  the  purpose  of  be- 
ing put  to  death,  but  that  they  had  made  their  escape  in 
the  night.  And  not  two  stones'  throw  from  them  a  great 
number  of  Indians  began  to  appear,  well  armed  and  utter- 
ing loud  cries,  and  commenced  an  attack  upon  our  people, 
discharging  many  darts  and  arrows.  I  undertook  to 
make  a  formal  appeal  to  them  through  the  interpreters 
that  I  had  brought  writh  me  instead  of  a  notary.  But 
the  more  I  delayed  for  the  purpose  of  reasoning  with 
them  and  inducing  peace,  the  more  eager  they  seemed  to 
give  us  all  the  annoyance  in  their  power.  Seeing  that 
they  did  not  regard  our  overtures,  wTe  endeavored  to  de- 
fend ourselves  as  well  as  we  could ;  and  thus  they  drew 
us  on  while  engaged  in  righting,  until  we  found  ourselves 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  53 

in  the  midst  of  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  war- 
riors, who  surrounded  us  on  all  sides ;  the  battle  lasted 
the  whole  day  until  an  hour  before  sunset,  when  they 
drew  off.  In  this  contest,  with  six  pieces  of  ordnance, 
five  or  six  handguns,  forty  archers  and  thirteen  horse> 
that  remained  with  me,  I  did  them  much  injury,  without 
suffering  from  them  any  other  inconvenience  than  the 
labor  and  fatigue  of  fighting  and  hunger.  And  it  truly 
seemed  that  God  fought  on  our  side,  since  with  such  a 
multitude  of  the  enemy  opposed  to  us,  who  discovered 
so  great  courage  and  skill  in  the  use  of  arms,  of  which 
they  had  many  kinds,  we  nevertheless  came  off  unhurt. 
The  same  night  I  took  up  my  quarters  in  a  tower  of 
idols  that  stood  on  a  hill ;  and  before  daylight  I  left  in 
the  camp  two  hundred  men  and  all  the  artillery ;  and  in 
order  to  attack  the  enemy,  I  sallied  forth  with  the  horse 
and  a  hundred  foot,  together  with  four  hundred  Indians 
who  had  accompanied  me  from  Cempoal,  and  three  hun- 
dred from  Yztacmestilan.  Before  they  had  time  to  col- 
lect their  forces  I  destroyed  five  or  six  small  villages  of 
a  hundred  houses  each,  and  took  four  hundred  prisoners, 
including  men  and  women.  I  then  returned  to  the  camp, 
fighting  my  way,  but  without  suffering  any  loss.  After- 
wards, at  daylight,  more  than  one  hundred  and  forty- 
nine  thousand  men,  who  covered  the  land,  made  an  at- 
tack in  so  determined  a  manner  upon  our  camp,  that 
some  of  them  forced  an  entrance  and  engaged  the  Span- 
iards at  the  point  of  the  sword  ;  when  it  pleased  our 
Lord  to  afford  us  his  aid  to  such  a  degree,  that  in  four 
hours  they  no  longer  annoyed  us  in  our  camp,  although 
they  still  continued  their  attacks.  And  thus  we  were 
engaged  in  fighting  until  evening,  when  the  enemy  at 
length  drew  off. 

8 


54  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

The  next  day  I  again  sallied  forth — though  in  a  different 
direction,  before  it  was  light,  without  being  observed  by 
the  enemy — with  the  horse,  a  hundred  foot,  and  the 
friendly  Indians,  when  I  destroyed  more  than  ten  towns, 
one  of  which  contained  about  three  thousand  houses,  where 
we  encountered  the  town's-people  alone,  the  forces  of 
the  enemy  not  being  present.  As  we  carried  the  banner 
of  the  cross,*  and  fought  for  our  faith  and  in  the  service 
of  your  Sacred  Majesty,  God  in  his  glorious  providence 
gave  us  so  great  a  victory,  that  we  destroyed  many 
people  without  ourselves  receiving  any  injury.  Early 
in  the  afternoon,  when  the  forces  of  the  enemy  were  yet 
assembled  from  all  quarters,  we  returned  victorious  to 
our  camp.  The  following  day  there  came  messengers 
from  the  leading  men,  saying  that  they  wished  to  become 
the  vassals  of  your  Highness,  and  my  allies,  and  begged 
that  I  would  pardon  their  past  errors.  They  brought 
with  them  a  quantity  of  provisions,  and  certain  ornaments 
of  feathers,  held  in  high  esteem  among  them.  I  answered 
them,  that  they  had  done  wrong,  but  I  was  willing  to  be 
their  friend,  and  to  overlook  their  past  actions.  The 
next  day  there  arrived  about  fifty  Indians,  who  appeared 
to  be  persons  of  high  standing  among  their  countrymen, 
and  declared  that  they  had  come  to  bring  us  provisions  ; 
at  the  same  time  they  examined  carefully  the  passages 
leading  to  and  from  our  camp,  and  certain  huts  we  had 
erected  for  barracks.  The  Cempoallans  came  to  me  and 
said  it  was  easy  to  see  that  these  men  were  enemies,  and 
had  come  as  spies  to  find  out  how  they  could  injure  us, 


*  One  of  the  banners  carried  by  Cortes  is  deposited  in  the  office  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Government,  and  the  other  is  in  the  Church  of  St.  Francis,  in 
Mexico ;  the  first  represents  the  Virgin  Mary,  painted  on  damask,  and  the  other, 
the  cross. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  55 

and  assured  me  that  their  visit  was  for  no  other  purpose. 
I  then  caused  one  of  them  to  be  taken  aside  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  others,  and  retiring  with  him  and  the 
interpreters,  I  endeavored  to  compel  him  by  threats  to 
disclose  the  truth.  He  then  confessed  that  Sintengal, 
[Xicotencatl]  who  was  the  Captain  General  of  this  Pro- 
vince, had  taken  a  position  behind  the  hills  that  were  in 
front  of  the  camp,  with  a  numerous  force,  for  the  purpose 
of  attacking  us  that  night ;  as  they  said  that  they  had 
already  tried  an  attack  by  day  without  any  good  effect, 
and  they  now  desired  to  make  the  attempt  by  night, 
when  their  people  would  not  have  occasion  to  fear  our 
horses,  guns,  or  swords ;  that  he  had  accordingly  sent 
them  to  observe  our  camp  and  the  means  of  access  to  it, 
and  how  they  could  best  destroy  the  huts  of  straw. 
Afterwards  I  took  aside  another  of  the  Indians,  and 
made  similar  inquiries,  when  he  confessed  almost  in  the 
same  words  as  the  other ;  and  I  did  the  same  with  five 
or  six  others,  all  of  whom  confirmed  the  former  state- 
ments. Seeing  this,  I  ordered  the  fifty  to  be  seized,  and 
their  hands  to  be  cut  off,  and  sent  them  back  to  their 
leader  with  this  message  :  that  both  by  night  and  day, 
and  whenever  he  might  come,  they  would  see  what  we 
were.  I  then  fortified  my  tent  according  to  the  best  of 
my  power,  and  placed  my  men  within  the  works  in  the 
best  manner  possible,  and  thus  was  on  my  guard  until 
sunset.  As  soon  as  it  was  dark  the  enemy  began  to  de- 
scend through  two  valleys,  thinking  that  they  would 
come  upon  us  unawares,  and  surround  us,  in  order  to 
execute  their  purpose,  not  knowing  that  I  was  so  well 
informed  of  their  movements.  It  seemed  to  me  that  to 
suffer  them  to  reach  the  camp  might  be  attended  with 
danger,  because  at  night  they  would  be  less  intimidated 


56  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

from  not  seeing  our  means  of  defence ;  and  also  that 
some  of  our  men,  not  seeing  the  enemy,  might  be  less 
resolute  in  fighting ;  and  I  feared,  too,  that  our  works 
might  be  set  on  fire — in  which  case,  besides  the  loss  of 
our  effects,  none  of  our  people  could  escape.  I  resolved, 
therefore,  to  sally  forth  to  meet  the  enemy  with  all  our 
cavalry,  in  order  to  arrest  their  progress,  or  by  throwing 
them  into  confusion  to  prevent  their  reaching  the  camp. 
And  thus  it  turned  out,  that  when  they  perceived  us  ad- 
vancing against  them  with  our  cavalry,  they  fled  with 
haste  and  in  silence  behind  the  fields  of  maize  with  which 
the  country  was  filled,  and  abandoned  the  provisions  they 
had  brought  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  feast  of  rejoicing 
in  case  they  had  succeeded  in  utterly  destroying  us. 
Thus  they  fled,  and  we  remained  in  security  that  night. 
After  this  occurrence,  I  continued  several  days  in  camp, 
going  but  a  short  distance  beyond  its  immediate  pre- 
cincts for  the  purpose  of  stopping  the  approach  of  some 
Indians,  who  came  shouting  towards  us  to  provoke  a 
skirmish. 

Having  enjoyed  some  repose,  I  made  another  descent 
upon  the  enemy  by  night,  after  going  the  rounds  of  the 
guards  in  the  first  quarter.  I  took  with  me  one  hundred 
foot,  our  Indian  allies,  and  the  cavalry ;  but  at  the  dis- 
tance of  a  league  from  the  camp  five  of  my  horses  gave 
out,  and  finding  it  impossible  to  urge  them  forward,  I 
sent  them  back.  Although  all  of  the  men  wished  me  to 
return,  considering  this  as  a  bad  omen,  I  nevertheless 
pursued  my  route,  with  the  reflection  that  God  is  over 
all.  Before  daylight  I  attacked  several  towns,  contain- 
ing a  large  population  ;  but  I  did  not  destroy  the  houses 
lest  the  fire  should  alarm  the  other  people  who  dwelt  in 
the  neighborhood.     When  the  day  had  already  dawned 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXECO.  57 

I  attacked  another  place,  which  was  so  large  that  it  con- 
tained, according  to  an  examination  that  I  caused  to  be 
made,  more  than  twenty  thousand  houses.  As  I  came 
upon  it  by  surprise,  the  inhabitants  rushed  unarmed  into 
the  streets,  the  women  and  children  being  in  a  state  of 
nudity,  and  we  had  begun  to  attack  them  when  I  dis- 
covered that  they  made  no  resistance,  and  certain  of 
their  leaders  came  to  beg  that  I  would  stop  hostilities,  as 
they  were  desirous  of  becoming  the  vassals  of  your 
Highness  and  my  allies.  They  confessed  that  they  had 
done  wrong  in  not  having  before  placed  confidence  in 
me,  but  declared  that  henceforth  I  should  see  them  wil- 
ling to  execute  whatever  I  commanded  in  your  Majesty's 
name,  as  your  true  and  faithful  liege  subjects.  Imme- 
diately there  joined  me  more  than  four  thousand  persons 
unarmed,  and  at  a  fountain  outside  of  the  town  they 
brought  us  an  abundance  of  provisions.  Thus  I  left 
them  in  peace  and  returned  to  our  camp,  where  I  found 
the  people  who  had  remained  very  much  alarmed,  ima- 
gining that  I  had  encountered  great  danger,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  return  of  the  horses  the  night  before.  But 
when  informed  of  the  victory  which  it  had  pleased  God 
to  grant  us,  and  that  we  had  made  friends  of  so  many 
of  the  inhabitants,  they  were  greatly  rejoiced.  Notwith- 
standing, I  assure  your  Majesty,  that  there  was  scarcely 
one  of  us  who  did  not  feel  some  apprehension  on  finding 
ourselves  so  far  in  the  interior  of  the  country,  and  in  the 
midst  of  so  numerous  and  powerful  a  people,  without 
hope  of  succour  from  any  quarter.  So  desperate  was 
our  situation,  that  I  heard  with  my  own  ears  the  remark 
made  among  our  men,  in  almost  a  public  manner,  that  I 
was  a  Peter  Carbonero,  who  had  brought  them  into  dan- 
gers from  which  they  could  not  escape.     And  I  even 


58  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

heard  it  said  in  a  hut  where  several  lodged  together, 
(being  where  they  could  not  see  me,)  that  I  was  without 
doubt  a  madman,  and  would  plunge  myself  into  diffi- 
culties from  which  I  could,  not  be  extricated ;  that  they 
should  return  to  the  sea,  and  if  I  chose  to  accompany 
them,  well — but  if  not,  they  would  leave  me  behind. 
And  oftentimes  I  was  entreated  to  return  with  renewed 
importunity,  when  I  revived  their  courage  by  exhorting 
them  to  reflect,  that  they  were  the  subjects  of  your  High- 
ness, and  Spaniards  had  never  been  known  to  falter  in 
their  allegiance;  that  we  had  it  in  our  power  to  acquire 
for  your  Majesty  greater  kingdoms  and  provinces  than 
were  to  be  found  in  any  other  part  of  the  world.  And 
besides,  we  were  only  doing  what  as  Christians  we  were 
under  obligations  to  do,  by  warring  against  the  enemies 
of  our  faith — by  which  means  we  secured  to  ourselves 
glory  in  another  world,  and  gained  greater  honor  and 
rewards  in  this  life  than  had  fallen  to  the  lot  of  any  other 
generation  at  any  former  period  ;  that  they  should  also 
reflect  that  God  was  on  our  side,  and  that  to  him  nothing 
is  impossible,  as  they  might  see  in  the  victories  we  had 
gained,  when  so  many  of  the  enemy  were  killed  without 
any  loss  on  our  part.  These  and  similar  things  I  said  to 
them,  by  means  of  which,  and  the  royal  favor  of  your 
Highness,  they  recovered  their  spirits,  and  were  induced 
to  do  what  I  desired,  in  order  to  complete  what  I  had 
already  begun. 

At  ten  o'clock  on  the  following  day,  Sicutengal,  [Xico- 
tencatl],  Captain  General  of  this  Province,  with  about 
fifty  of  the  principal  persons  belonging  to  it,  came  to  me 
and  solicited  on  the  part  of  himself  and  of  Magiscatzin,* 
who  is  the  most  important  personage  of  the  whole  pro- 

*  Governor  of  the  Republic  of  Tlascala. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  59 

vince,  and  on  behalf  of  many  other  caziques  or  chiefs, 
that  I  would  admit  them  into  the  royal  service  of  your 
Highness,  and  to  my  friendship,  and  would  pardon  their 
past  errors,  as  they  had  not  known  us,  nor  understood 
who  we  were ;  adding  that  they  had  already  exerted 
their  utmost  strength,  both  by  day  and  night,  to  avoid 
becoming  subject  to  any  power  whatever;  for  at  no 
period  had  this  province  ever  been  so,  nor  did  it  now 
own,  nor  had  it  at  any  former  time  acknowledged,  a 
master ;  that  they  had  lived  free  and  unrestrained  from 
time  immemorial  to  the  present  moment ;  that  they  had 
always  successfully  defended  themselves  against  the 
great  power  of  Muteczuma,  and  his  father  and  ances- 
tors, who  had  subjected  the  whole  earth,  but  had  never 
been  able  to  reduce  them  to  subjection,  although  they 
had  hemmed  them  in  on  all  sides,  so  that  there  was  no 
passage  left  for  them  out  of  their  own  territory ;  that 
they  were  deprived  of  the  use  of  salt,*  because  it  was  not 
produced  in  any  part  of  their  country,  nor  were  they 
able  to  go  and  procure  it  elsewhere ;  and  for  the  same 
reason  they  were  destitute  of  cotton  cloth,  as  the  cotton 
plant  does  not  grow  with  them  on  account  of  the  coldness 
of  the  climate,  as  well  as  of  many  other  things  of  which 
they  were  in  want,  by  reason  of  their  being  confined 
within  such  narrow  limits.  Nevertheless,  they  preferred 
to  suffer  these  privations,  and  considered  it  better  for 
them,  in  order  to  enjoy  their  freedom  and  be  subject  to 
no  one  ;  and  that  in  regard  to  myself,  their  feelings  were 

*  The  salt  which  the  Indians  use  is  called  by  them  Tequesquit ;  it  is  saltpetre, 
and  is  gathered  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  at  the  present  day  for  the  same 
purpose,  and  also  to  be  converted  into  gunpowder.  An  extensive  commerce  is 
carried  on  in  this  salt  by  the  Mexicans  of  Yxtapaluca  and  Yxtapalapa,  which 
means  the  places  where  salt  or  Yxtatl  is  gathered ;  and  at  this  day  the  people 
of  Yxtapalapa  are  thus  occupied.— L. 


60  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

the  same ;  but  that  as  they  had  already  declared,  they 
had  tried  their  strength,  and  saw  clearly  that  neither  the 
force  nor  the  skill  that  they  had  been  able  to  command? 
profited  them  any  thing,  and  they  now  sought  to  become 
the  subjects  of  your  Highness  rather  than  perish  and 
doom  to  destruction  their  houses,  their  women,  and  their 
children.  I  satisfied  them  by  saying,  that  they  well 
knew  the  losses  they  had  sustained  were  entirely  owing 
to  themselves ;  that  I  had  entered  their  territory  in  the 
belief  that  I  was  coming  among  friends,  for  the  Cem- 
poallans  had  assured  me  they  were  so,  and  wished  to  be 
so  j  and  that  I  had  sent  in  advance  my  messengers  to 
inform  them  that  I  was  coming,  and  of  the  pleasure  their 
friendship  would  afford  me ;  and  that  without  returning 
me  any  answer,  while  I  was  approaching  with  apparent 
security,  they  had  attacked  me  on  the  road,  killed  two 
of  my  horses,  and  wounded  others  ;  and  moreover,  after 
fighting  with  me  they  had  sent  messengers,  saying,  that 
what  had  taken  place  was  contrary  to  their  wishes  and 
consent,  certain  communities  having  made  the  move- 
ment without  their  participation,  but  that  they  had  re- 
proved them  for  it,  and  desired  my  friendship.  Believing 
this  to  be  true,  I  had  told  them  that  it  gave  me  pleasure, 
and  that  on  the  next  day  I  would  visit  them  in  their 
abodes  as  friends  ;  and  yet  they  had  attacked  me  while 
on  the  way,  and  fought  against  me  the  whole  day  until 
the  approach  of  night,  notwithstanding  I  had  earnestly 
desired  peace.  I  also  reminded  them  of  all  they  had 
done  to  oppose  my  progress,  and  many  other  matters, 
which  I  omit  to  mention  that  I  may  not  weary  your 
Highness.  Finally,  they  remained,  and  acknowledged 
themselves  as  subjects  and  vassals  of  your  Majesty, 
offering  their  persons  and  their  estates  for  your  royal 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  61 

service.  This  they  carried  into  effect,  and  have  re- 
mained faithful  to  the  present  time  ;  and  I  believe  they 
will  always  continue  so,  as  your  Majesty  will  hereafter 
see. 

I  remained  in  my  quarters  and  camp  for  six  or  seven 
days,  as  I  dared  not  trust  them ;  but  when  they  invited 
me  to  visit  a  large  city*  in  which  resided  all  the  princi- 
pal men  of  the  province,  who  came  to  urge  me  to  make 
them  a  visit,  saying  that  I  should  be  better  received  and 
more  abundantly  supplied  with  what  was  necessary  there 
than  in  camp ;  and  when  they  expressed  their  mortifi- 
cation that  I  should  be  so  poorly  lodged,  considering  me 
as  a  friend,  and  themselves  as  well  as  myself  subjects  of 
your  Highness  :  in  compliance  with  their  request  I  went 
to  the  city,  which  was  six  leagues  from  my  quarters  and 
camp.  This  city  is  so  extensive  and  so  well  worthy  of 
admiration,  that  although  I  omit  much  that  I  could  say 
of  it,  I  feel  assured  that  the  little  I  shall  say  will  be 
scarcely  credited,  since  it  is  larger  than  Granada,  and 
much  stronger,  and  contains  as  many  fine  houses  and  a 
much  larger  population  than  that  city  did  at  the  time  of 
its  capture  ;  and  it  is  much  better  supplied  with  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  earth,  such  as  corn,  and  with  fowls  and 
game,  fish  from  the  rivers,  various  kinds  of  vegetables, 
and  other  excellent  articles  of  food.  There  is  in  this 
city  a  market,  in  which  every  day  thirty  thousand  peo- 
ple are  engaged  in  buying  and  selling,  beside  many  other 
merchants  who  are  scattered  about  the  city.  The  mar- 
ket contains  a  great  variety  of  articles  both  of  food  and 
clothing,  and  all  kinds  of  shoes  for  the  feet ;  jewels  of 
gold  and  silver,  and  precious  stones,  and  ornaments  of 
feathers,  all  as  well  arranged  as  they  can  possibly  be 

*  It  still  bears  the  name  of  Tlascala,  though  much  decayed. 

9 


62  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

found  in  any  public  squares  or  markets  in  the  world. 
There  is  much  earthenware  of  every  style  and  a  good 
quality,  equal  to  the  best  of  Spanish  manufacture.*  Wood, 
coal,  edible  and  medicinal  plants,  are  sold  in  great 
quantities.  There  are  houses  where  they  wash  and 
shave  the  head  as  barbers,  and  also  for  baths.  Finally, 
there  is  found  among  them  a  well  regulated  police ;  the 
people  are  rational  and  well  disposed,  and  altogether 
greatly  superior  to  the  most  civilized  African  nation. 
The  country  abounds  in  level  and  beautiful  valleys,  all 
tilled  and  sown,  without  any  part  lying  unimproved.  In 
its  constitution  of  government  that  has  existed  until  the 
present  time,  it  resembles  the  states  of  Venice,  Genoa, 
and  Pisa ;  since  the  supreme  authority  is  not  reposed  in 
one  person.  There  are  many  nobles,  all  of  whom  reside 
in  the  city ;  the  common  people  are  laborers,  and  the 
vassals  of  the  nobility,  but  each  one  possesses  land  of  his 
own,  some  more  than  others.  In  war  all  unite  and  have 
a  voice  in  its  management  and  direction.  It  may  be 
supposed  that  they  have  tribunals  of  justice  for  the  pun- 
ishment of  the  guilty;  since  when  one  of  the  natives  of 
the  province  stole  some  gold  of  a  Spaniard,  and  I  men- 
tioned the  circumstance  to  Magiscacin,  the  most  powerful 
of  the  nobility,  they  made  search  for  the  thief,  and  traced 
him  to  a  city  in  the  neighborhood  called  Churultecal 
[Cholula],  from  whence  they  brought  him  prisoner,  and 
delivered  him  to  me  with  the  gold,  saying  that  I  must 
have  him  punished.  I  acknowledged  in  suitable  terms 
the  pains  they  had  taken  in  the  matter,  but  remarked  to 
them  that  since  the  prisoner  was  in  their  country,  they 

*  At  this  day  earthenware  is  manufactured  in  the  province  of  La 
Puebla,  and  it  is  the  roost  highly  prized  for  common  use  of  any  in  the 
kingdom ;  and  in  Guadalaxara  are  made  earthen  vessels  of  so  elegant  work- 
manshiprthat  on  special  occasions  they  are  exported  to  Spain. — L. 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  63 

should  punish  him  according  to  their  custom,  and  that  I 
chose  not  to  interfere  with  the  punishment  of  their  people 
while  I  remained  among  them.  They  thanked  me,  and 
taking  the  man,  carried  him  to  the  great  market,  a  town 
crier  making  public  proclamation  of  his  offence ;  they 
then  placed  him  at  the  base  of  a  structure  resembling  a 
theatre,  which  stands  in  the  midst  of  the  market-place, 
while  the  crier  went  to  the  top  of  the  building  and  with 
a  loud  voice  again  proclaimed  his  offence ;  whereupon 
the  people  beat  him  with  sticks  until  he  was  dead.  We 
likewise  saw  many  persons  in  prison  who  were  said  to 
be  confined  for  theft  and  other  offences  they  had  com- 
mitted. There  are  in  this  province,  according  to  a  re- 
port made  by  my  orders,  five  hundred  thousand  inhabit- 
ants, besides  those  in  another  small  province  adjacent 
to  this,  called  Guazincango,*  who  live  in  the  same  man- 
ner, not  subject  to  any  native  sovereign,  and  are  not  less 
the  vassals  of  your  Highness  than  the  people  of  Tascal- 
teca  [Tlascala]. 

During  the  time  I  was  at  war  with  this  province,  Most 
Catholic  Sire,  and  while  I  was  yet  in  camp,  there  came 
to  me  six  lords,  the  principal  vassals  of  Muteczuma, 
with  about  two  hundred  men  in  their  train,  and  assured 
me  that  they  came  on  the  part  of  Muteczuma  to  inform 
me  that  he  desired  to  become  a  subject  of  your  Highness, 
and  my  friend ;  and  to  satisfy  me  of  the  sincerity  of  his 
professions,  he  would  yield  to  your  Highness  every  year 
a  tribute  of  gold  and  silver,  precious  stones,  slaves,  and 
cotton  cloth,  and  such  other  things  as  he  had  ;  that  he 
would  give  all  this,  but  that  he  desired  I  would  not  visit 
his  dominions,  because  the  country  was  very  barren  and 
destitute  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  he  should  regret 

*  Also  written  Huajocingo,  and  Huexotzinco ;  a  small  republic. 


64  LETTERS   OP    CORTES. 

the  privations  that  I  and  those  who  carne  with  me  would 
have  to  endure.  He  sent  to  me  by  the  same  persons 
almost  a  thousand  pesos  of  gold,  and  large  pieces  of  cot- 
ton cloth  of  the  kind  they  wore.  They  remained  with 
me  during  a  great  part  of  the  war,  until  its  close,  and 
saw  what  the  Spaniards  were  capable  of  doing;  they 
also  knew  the  terms  on  which  this  province  made  peace 
with  us,  and  the  professions  of  allegiance  to  your  Majesty 
on  the  part  of  the  nobles  and  the  whole  land,  as  it  ap- 
peared ;  but  they  showed  no  signs  of  pleasure  at  these 
things,  and  labored  in  every  possible  way  to  prejudice 
me  against  this  people,  saying  that  there  was  no  confi- 
dence to  be  placed  in  what  they  told  me,  nor  any  sin- 
cerity in  their  professions  of  friendship,  which  were  only 
made  to  lull  me  into  security,  so  that  they  could  betray 
me  with  impunity.  On  the  other  hand,  the  inhabitants 
of  this  province  would  often  caution  me  not  to  trust  these 
vassals  of  Muteczuma,  for  they  were  traitors,  and  al- 
ways acted  treacherously  and  artfully,  by  which  means 
they  had  subjugated  the  whole  earth;  and  they  warned 
me  as  true  friends,  and  as  persons  who  had  long  known 
those  men,  to  beware  of  them.  I  was  not  a  little  pleased 
on  seeing  their  want  of  harmony,  as  it  seemed  favorable 
to  my  designs,  and  would  enable  me  to  bring  them  more 
easily  into  subjection,  according  to  the  common  saying, 
De  Monte,  Sfc.  I  likewise  applied  to  this  case  the  authority 
of  the  Evangelist,  who  says,  ^  Every  kingdom  divided 
against  itself  shall  be  rendered  desolate ;"  and  I  dis- 
sembled with  both  parties,  expressing  privately  my  ac- 
knowledgments to  both  for  the  advice  they  gave  me,  and 
giving  to  each  of  them  credit  for  more  friendship  towards 
me  than  I  experienced  from  the  other. 

After  I  had  been  twenty  days  or  more  in  this  city, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  65 

certain  nobles,  messengers  of  Muteczuma,  who  had  been 
with  me  for  some  time,  desired  that  I  should  visit  a  city- 
six  leagues  distant  from  Tascaltecatl,  called  Churulte- 
cal,  [Cholula,]  because  its  inhabitants  were  friends  of 
Muteczuma  their  sovereign,  and  that  we  should  there 
learn  his  pleasure,  whether  I  should  be  permitted  to  en- 
ter his  dominions,  and  that  some  of  their  number  in  the 
mean  time  would  go  and  confer  with  him  for  the  purpose 
of  informing  him  what  I  had  said  and  return  with  his  an- 
swer. Although  they  knew  that  messengers  from  Mu- 
teczuma had  come  to  communicate  with  me,  I  promised 
them  I  would  go  and  would  set  out  on  a  particular  day, 
which  I  designated.  As  soon  as  it  was  known  to  the 
Tlascalans  that  I  had  consented  to  accompany  them  to 
that  city,  the  nobles  came  to  me  with  much  sorrow,  and 
said  that  I  must  by  no  means  go  there,  for  they  had 
formed  treacherous  designs  to  destroy  me  and  my  peo- 
ple in  that  city,  and  that  for  this  purpose  Muteczuma  had 
despatched  from  his  country  (a  part  of  which  was  adja- 
cent to  that  city)  fifty  thousand  men  whom  he  kept  in 
garrison  two  leagues  from  the  city,  as  they  showed,  and 
that  they  had  blocked  up  the  royal  road  by  which  they 
were  accustomed  to  go  and  made  a  new  one  full  of  pits, 
and  sharp  stakes  driven  into  the  good  and  covered  up, 
for  the  purpose  of  disabling  the  horses  ;  that  they  had 
placed  obstructions  in  many  of  the  streets,  and  heaps  of 
stones  on  the  flat  roofs  of  their  houses,  that  after  we  had 
entered  their  city  in  seeming  security  they  might  take  us 
by  surprise  and  do  with  us  as  they  pleased  ;  that  if  I 
wished  to  have  proofs  of  the  correctness  of  their  state- 
ments, I  might  notice  that  none  of  the  nobles  of  that  city 
had  come  to  see  me  or  to  speak  with  me,  although  I  was 
so  near,  but  that  a  deputation  had  come  for  that  purpose 


66  LETTERS   OP   CORTES. 

from  Guasincaugo,  which  was  farther  off,  and  that  I 
might  send  for  the  former  and  learn  why  they  had  not 
seen  fit  to  come.  I  thanked  them  for  their  caution,  and 
requested  that  they  would  furnish  me  with  persons  to 
send  on  this  errand,  to  see  why  the  people  of  that  city 
had  not  come.  They  did  so,  and  I  sent  to  ask  the  no- 
bles of  Cholula  to  make  me  a  visit,  as  I  wished  to  con- 
fer with  them  on  behalf  of  your  Majesty,  and  to  set  forth 
the  causes  of  my  arrival  in  this  quarter.  The  messen- 
gers departed  and  gave  my  message  to  the  nobles  of  that 
city,  and  there  came  back  with  them  two  or  three  persons  of 
no  great  importance,  who  said  they  had  come  on  behalf  of 
those  lords,  as  they  were  ill,  and  that  I  might  say  what  I 
desired  to  them.  The  Tlascalans  assured  me  it  was  all 
a  farce,  and  that  the  messengers  were  people  of  little 
standing,  adding  that  I  must  not  think  of  going  there  un- 
less the  nobles  of  the  city  came  to  see  me.  I  addressed 
myself  to  these  messengers,  and  said  that  having  been 
sent  as  the  ambassador  of  so  powerful  a  prince  as  your 
sacred  Majesty,  I  could  not  recognise  such  persons  as 
them,  and  that  even  their  greatest  men  were  scarcely 
worthy  of  receiving  my  attention;  therefore  the  latter 
must,  within  three  days,  appear  before  me  to  profess  al- 
legiance to  your  Highness  and  submit  themselves  as 
your  vassals,  with  the  warning  that  if  they  did  not  come 
before  I  had  passed  their  borders,  I  should  march  against 
them  and  destroy  them  as  rebels  who  refused  to  submit 
to  the  government  of  your  Majesty.  And  to  this  end  I 
sent  them  a  requisition,  subscribed  with  my  name  and  by 
the  hands  of  a  notary,  with  a  full  description  of  your 
sacred  Majesty's  royal  person  and  of  my  arrival,  stating 
to  them  that  all  these  countries,  and  other  lands  of  even 
greater  extent,  belonged  to  your  Highness ;  that  those 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  67 

who  chose  to  become  your  subjects  were  honored  and 
favored,  but  those  who  rebelled  were  punished  as  justice 
required.  The  next  day  nearly  all  of  the  nobles  of  that 
city  came,  and  declared  to  me,  that  if  they  had  not  ap- 
peared before,  the  reason  was  that  the  people  of  this  pro- 
vince were  their  enemies,  and  that  they  dared  not  enter 
their  territory,  as  it  was  dangerous  for  them  ;  and  that 
they  fully  believed  the  Tlascalans  had  spoken  of  them  in 
such  a  way  as  to  prevent  my  giving  them  credit,  for  they 
had  spoken  as  enemies  and  not  according  to  the  truth ; 
that  I  should  visit  their  city,  where  I  would  learn  the 
falsity  of  what  those  persons  had  told  me  and  the  truth 
of  their  own  statements ;  that  from  henceforth  they  would 
do  homage  as  vassals  of  your  sacred  Majesty,  and  would 
ever  remain  so,  rendering  service  and  contributing  what- 
ever your  Highness  should  command  them ;-  to  all  which 
the  notary,  through  my  interpreters,  took  their  formal  ac- 
knowledgment. I  determined  to  go  with  them,  as  well 
for  the  purpose  of  showing  no  weakness  as  because  from 
their  city  I  thought  it  would  be  easier  to  communicate 
with  Muteczuma,  since  it  adjoins  his  dominions,  as  I 
have  already  stated,  and  the  people  of  both  places  were 
in  the  habit  of  coming  and  going  to  and  from  that  city, 
there  being  no  examination  or  search  of  travellers. 

When  the  Tlascalans  saw  my  determination  it  grieved 
them  much,  and  they  repeatedly  said  to  me,  that  I  had 
committed  an  error  ;  but  that  since  they  had  become  the 
vassals  of  your  Majesty  and  my  friends,  they  would  ac- 
company me  and  give  me  their  assistance  in  whatever  was 
required.  But  when  I  protested  against  their  going,  and 
begged  that  they  would  think  of  it,  as  there  was  no  ne- 
cessity for  it,  they  nevertheless  followed  me  with  a  force 
of  one  hundred  thousand  men  well  versed  in  war,  and 


68  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

attended  me  within  two  leagues  of  the  city,  when  upon 
my  urgent  entreaty  they  returned,  leaving  with  me,  how- 
ever, five  or  six  thousand  men.  I  slept  near  a  rivulet, 
which  was  two  leagues  from  the  city,  in  order  to  send 
back  the  people  that  they  might  give  no  offence  in  the 
city,  and  likewise  because  it  was  already  evening  and  I 
did  not  wish  to  enter  the  city  at  night.  The  next  morn- 
ing the  people  came  forth  from  the  city  to  receive  me  on 
the  road,  with  many  trumpets  and  kettle-drums,  and  a 
great  number  of  priests,  clothed  in  their  customary 
robes,  and  singing  as  they  are  wont  to  do  in  their  tem- 
ples. In  this  solemn  manner  they  escorted  us  into  the 
city  and  assigned  us  excellent  quarters,  in  which  all  my 
people  were  comfortably  lodged.  They  also  supplied 
us  with  provisions,  though  not  in  a  bountiful  manner. 
On  the  road  we  fell  in  with  many  of  those  marks  of 
which  we  had  been  forewarned  by  the  Tlascalans  ;  for„ 
we  found  the  royal  road  blocked  up  and  a  new  one 
opened,  and  also  pits,  though  not  many,  and  several 
streets  of  the  city  obstructed,  and  many  piles  of  stones  on 
the  tops  of  the  houses.  These  things  placed  us  more  on 
our  guard  and  led  us  to  exercise  greater  caution. 

I  met  there  several  envoys  of  Muteczuma,  who  had 
come  to  confer  with  those  that  had  been  with  me  ;  and 
they  told  me  that  they  had  only  come  to  ascertain  what 
the  others  had  done  and  agreed  upon,  in  order  that  they 
might  return  and  report  to  their  master.  They  accord- 
ingly departed,  after  having  conferred  with  their  coun- 
trymen, and  the  principal  one  of  those  that  had  been 
with  me  returned  at  the  same  time.  During  the  three 
days  that  I  was  there,  they  provided  very  poorly  for  our 
wants,  and  each  day  worse  than  the  former  one  ;  and 
the  nobles  and  principal  men  of  the  city  very  seldom 


CONGEST    OF    MEXICO.  69 

came  to  see  or  to  speak  to  me.  Being  somewhat  per- 
plexed by  this  treatment,  a  female  interpreter  that  I  had, 
who  was  a  native  of  this  country,*  and  whom  I  obtained 
at  Putunchan  on  the  Rio  Grande,  (as  I  have  already  men- 
tioned in  my  former  despatch,)  was  informed  by  another 
female,  a  native  of  this  city,  that  a  numerous  force  of 
Muteczuma  lay  very  near  the  city,  and  that  the  inhabit- 
ants had  carried  out  their  wives  and  children  and  wear- 
ing apparel,  as  an  attack  was  meditated  that  would  de- 
stroy us  all ;  and  that  if  she  wished  to  save  herself,  she 
should  go  with  her,  as  she  could  protect  her.  My  inter- 
preter told  this  to  Geronimo  de  Aguilar,  another  inter-^7 
preter,  whom  I  had  obtained  in  Yucatan,  of  whom  I  also 
wrote  to  your  Highness,  and  he  gave  me  the  informa- 
tion ;  when  I  took  one  of  the  native's  of  the  city,  and  drew 
him  aside  privately  so  that  no  one  saw  me,  and  interro- 
gated him  on  the  subject ;  this  man  confirmed  all  that 
the  Indian  women  and  the  natives  of  Tlascala  had  stated. 
Judging  from  this  information,  as  well  as  the  signs  that 
I  had  observed,  I  determined  to  anticipate  their  move- 
ments, in  order  to  prevent  being  taken  by  surprise ;  and 
I  sent  for  the  nobles  of  the  city,  to  whom  I  said  that  I 
wished  to  speak  with  them,  and  shut  them  in  a  room  by 
themselves.  In  the  mean  time,  I  caused  our  people  to 
be  put  under  arms,  and  ordered  them,  when  a  gun  was 
fired  as  a  signal,  to  attack  a  crowd  of  Indians  that  had 
collected  near  my  quarters,  many  of  whom  had  entered 
within  it.  After  I  had  shut  up  the  nobles,  I  left  them  well 
secured,  and  mounting  a  horse,  I  caused  the  signal  gun 
to  be  fired,  and  we  made  such  execution  that  in  two 
hours  more  than  three  thousand,  of  the  enemy  perished. 

*  Dona  Marina,  the  most  celebrated  of  Mexican  women. 
10 


70  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

And  that  your  Majesty  may  know  how  well  prepared 
they  were,  before  I  sallied  forth  from  our  quarters  they 
had  occupied  all  the  streets  with  their  forces  and  posted 
men  in  readiness  for  the  attack,  although  as  we  took 
them  by  surprise  they  were  easily  routed,  especially  as 
they  were  without  their  leaders,  whom  I  had  already 
made  prisoners;  and  I  set  fire  to  several  towers  and 
strong  houses,  from  which  they  defended  themselves  and 
attacked  us.  Thus  I  scoured  the  city,  fighting  my  way 
and  leaving  my  quarters  well  secured,  being  of  great 
strength,  for  five  hours,  until  I  had  driven  all  the  people 
out  of  the  city,  from  different  points,  in  which  I  was  as- 
sisted by  five  thousand  Indians  of  Tascaltecal,  and  four 
hundred  of  Cempoal.  On  my  return  to  our  quarters,  I 
addressed  myself  to  the  captive  nobles,  and  demanded 
why  they  had  wished  to  betray  and  destroy  me  ?  They 
answered,  that  it  was  not  their  fault,  as  the  men  of  Culua, 
[Mexico,]  who  were  the  vassals  of  Muteczuma,  had  urged 
them  to  it,  and  that  Muteczuma  was  to  have  had  within 
the  distance  of  a  league  and  a  half  from  the  city,  as  it 
afterwards  appeared,  a  force  of  fifty  thousand  men  for 
that  purpose.  But  as  they  saw  that  he  had  deceived 
them,  if  I  would  allow  one  or  two  of  their  number  to  de- 
part, they  would  collect  the  people  of  the  city  and  cause 
the  women  and  children  to  return  with  their  effects ;  and 
they  begged  that  I  would  pardon  their  mistake,  declaring 
that  henceforth  they  would  never  deceive  me,  but  prove 
true  and  loyal  vassals  of  your  Highness,  and  my  friends. 
After  I  had  said  a  great  deal  to  them  in  regard  to  their 
error  I  suffered  two  of  them  to  go,  and  the  next  day  the 
whole  city  was  filled  with  men,  women  and  children, 
in  as  much  security  as  if  nothing  had  occurred  ;  and 
subsequently  I  set  at  liberty  all  the  other  chiefs  upon 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  71 

their  promise  to  serve  your  Majesty  in  the  most  loyal 
manner.     At  the  expiration  of  about  fifteen  or  twenty 
days  I  left  the  city  and  country,  so  peaceful  and  populous 
that  nothing  seemed  to  be  wanting  to  it,  either  in  its 
markets  or  the  domestic  trade  which  it  had  enjoyed  be- 
fore.    I  also  brought  about  a  friendship  between  the 
people   of  Churultecal  [Cholula]  and  of  Tascaltecal, 
[Tlascala,]  which  had  formerly  existed  until  within  a 
short  period,  when  Muteczuma  by  presents  had  enticed 
the  former  into  an  alliance  with  him  and  rendered  them 
enemies  to  one  another.     This  city  of  Churultecal  is 
situated  on  a  plain  and  contains  about  twenty  thousand 
houses  within  the  body  of  the  town,  and  as  many  more 
in  the  suburbs.     It  is  an  independent  state,  and  has  its 
boundaries  well  defined ;  not  yielding  obedience  to  any 
sovereign,  but  governed  in  the  same  way  as  Tascaltecal. 
The  inhabitants  are  better  clothed  than  the  Tlascalans  in 
some  respects,  as  the  superior  classes  of  citizens  all  wear 
cloaks  over  their  other  dress ;  similar  in  shape,  material,  and 
bordering,  to  those  of  Africa,  but  unlike   them  in  being 
provided  with  pockets.     Since  the  late  troubles  they  have 
been  and  continue  true  and  obedient  vassals   of  your 
Majesty,  performing  whatever  is  required  of  them  in  your 
royal  name,  and  I  believe  they  will  remain  so  hereafter. 
This  state  is  very  fertile  under  cultivation,  as  there  is 
much  land,  most  of  which  is  well  watered  ;  and  the  ex- 
terior of  the  city  is  more  beautiful  than  any  in  Spain,  as 
it  contains  many  towers,  and  is  situated  upon  a  plain. 
And  I  assure  your  Majesty,  that  I  have  counted  from  a 
mosque  or  temple  four  hundred  mosques  and  as  many 
towers,  all  of  which  are  of  mosques  in  this  city.     This 
city  is  more  suitable  for  the  Spaniards  to  inhabit  than 
any  of  the  towns  we  have  yet  seen,  as  it  has  unoccupied 


72  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

lands  and  water  for  cattle,  which  none  of  the  others  have 
that  we  have  seen ;  and  the  multitude  of  people  who 
dwell  in  the  other  places  is  so  great,  that  there  is  not  a 
hand's-breadth  of  land  which  is  not  cultivated ;  never- 
theless, in  many  of  these  places  they  suffer  from  want  of 
bread,  and  there  are  many  poor  people  who  ask  alms  of 
the  rich  in  the  streets,  and  at  the  houses  and  markets,  as 
is  done  by  the  mendicants  in  Spain  and  other  civilized 
countries. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  73 


CHAPTER  IV. 

I  spoke  to  the  envoys  of  Muteczuma  who  were 
with  me  concerning  the  treachery  that  had  been  prac- 
tised in  Cholula,  and  said  I  had  been  informed  by 
the  leaders  that  it  was  done  through  the  advice  of  Mu- 
teczuma ;  but  that  it  did  not  appear  to  me  it  could  have 
been  the  act  of  so  great  a  sovereign  as  he  was,  to  send 
his  messengers  and  noble  persons  to  me,  declaring  that 
he  was  my  friend,  as  he  had  done,  and  at  the  same  time 
seeking  means  to  attack  me  through  others,  in  order  that 
he  might  avoid  censure  in  case  the  design  did  not  suc- 
ceed. But  since  it  was  so,  and  he  did  not  keep  his  word, 
uor  adhere  to  the  truth,  I  told  them  I  should  change  my 
own  purpose  ;  that  until  then  it  had  been  my  intention  to 
visit  his  country  as  a  friend,  to  see  and  talk  with  him, 
and  hold  much  peaceful  intercourse  with  him  ;  but  that 
now  I  should  enter  his  dominions  in  the  guise  of  war, 
doing  all  the  injury  that  was  in  my  power,  as  an  enemy ; 
that  I  was  sorry  to  adopt  this  course,  as  I  preferred  to 
have  his  friendship,  and  to  take  counsel  of  him  in  what- 
ever I  had  to  do  in  this  land.  The  envoys  replied,  that 
they  had  now  been  with  me  a  long  time,  and  that  they  had 
known  nothing  of  any  such  understanding  with  the  Cho- 
lulans,  more  than  had  been  declared  in  that  city  since  its 
submission,  and  they  could  not  believe  that  it  had  taken 
place  by  the  advice  or  command  of  Muteczuma ;  and 
they  entreated  that  before  I  renounced  his  friendship  and 
made  war  upon  him,  I  would  inform  myself  of  the  truth, 
and  suffer  one  of  their  number  to  go  and  confer  with  him, 


74  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

as  he  could  return  very  soon,  the  distance  from  this  city  to 
where  Muteczuma  resides  being  but  twenty  leagues.  I 
told  them  that  this  would  be  agreeable  to  me,  and  I  allow- 
ed one  of  them  to  go,  who  returned  from  thence  in  six 
days,  accompanied  by  the  other  envoy  who  had  gone  pre- 
viously. They  brought  me  ten  pieces  of  gold  plate,  fifteen 
hundred  pieces  of  cotton  cloth,  a  great  number  of  fowls, 
and  a  beverage,  in  common  use  among  them,  which  is 
called  panicap  ;*  and  they  informed  me  that  Muteczuma 
had  been  much  troubled  on  account  of  what  had  occurred 
at  Churultecal,  but  that  I  must  not  believe  it  had  been 
done  by  his  advice  or  command,  as  he  would  prove  to 
me  with  certainty  that  it  was  not  so ;  that  the  troops  in 
the  garrison  near  the  city  were,  indeed,  his,  but  that  they 
had  moved  without  his  orders,  at  the  instigation  of  the 
Cholulans,  since  there  were  two  of  his  provinces  border- 
ing upon  Cholula,  that  had  an  alliance  with  that  state  on 
account  of  their  proximity  to  it  to  aid  one  another ;  one 
of  them  was  called  Acancigo,  and  the  other  Izcucan, 
[Acazingo  and  Izucar,]  and  that  in  this  way  they  had 
gone  there,  and  not  by  his  orders ;  that  I  should  see  by 
his  actions  whether  what  he  had  sent  to  communicate  to 
me  was  true  or  not ;  but  nevertheless,  that  he  begged  me 
not  to  trouble  myself  to  visit  his  country,  as  it  was  a  bar- 
ren region,  and  the  people  were  in  a  suffering  condition  ; 
and  that  he  would  send  to  me,  wherever  I  was,  to  ascer- 
tain my  wants,  which  he  would  supply  in  the  most  boun- 
tiful manner.  I  answered  that  I  could  not  dispense  with 
visiting  his  dominions,  as  I  was  obliged  to  transmit  an  ac- 
count of  them,  as  well  as  of  himself,  to  your  Majesty  ; 
that  I  fully  belieyed  what  he  had  stated,  by  his  envoys ; 

*  It  may  have  been  bread  made  of  maize,  as  Herrera  says,  or  a  beverage 
called  Atole,  made  of  maize,  water  and  sugar.— L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  75 

nevertheless,  since  I  should  not  relinquish  my  purpose  of 
seeing  him,  that  it  would  be  better  it  should  be  done  in 
a  friendly  manner,  and  that  no  obstacles  be  thrown  in 
my  way,  as  otherwise  it  would  be  attended  with  injury 
to  himself,  and  I  should  much  regret  any  such  occur- 
rence. As  soon  as  he  saw  that  it  was  my  determined 
desire  to  visit  him  and  his  country,  he  sent  to  say  that  it 
was  well ;  that  he  should  expect  me  in  the  great  city  where 
he  was,  and  that  several  of  his  people  would  join  me, 
as  soon  as  I  had  entered  his  territory.  These  persons 
desired  me  to  take  a  certain  route,*  on  which  they  might 
contrive  to  have  an  attack  made  upon  me,  as  it  after- 
wards appeared  ;  since  a  number  of  Spaniards  whom  I 
afterwards  sent  through  the  country  saw  how  it  was  ;  I 
should  have  found  on  that  route  so  many  bridges  and 
difficult  passes,  that  as  I  went  through  it  they  would  have 
been  able  to  execute  their  designs  with  safety  to  them- 
selves. But  as  God  has  ever  seen  fit  to  guide  your 
sacred  Majesty  from  your  infancy  in  the  right  way,  and 
as  I  and  those  who  accompanied  me,  were  engaged  in 
the  royal  service,  another  route  was  pointed  out  to  us, 
somewhat  rough,f  indeed,  but  not  so  dangerous  as  the 
other,  and  this  I  took. 

Eight  leagues  from  the  city  of  Cholula  are  two  very 
lofty  and  remarkable  mountains ;  in  the  latter  part  of 
August  their  summits  are  covered  with  snow ;  and  from 
the  highest,  by  night  as  well  as  by  day,  a  volume  of 
smoke  arises,  equal  in  bulk  to  a  spacious  house  ;  it  as- 
cends above  the  mountain  to  the  clouds  as  straight  as 
an  arrow,  and  with  such  force,  that  although  a  very 
strong  wind  is  always  blowing  on  the  mountain,  it  does 

*  This  route  was  through  Calpulalpa. — L. 

t  That  of  Rio  Frio,  along  the  side  of  the  Sierra  Nevada. — L. 


76  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

not  turn  the  smoke  from  its  course.*     As  I  have  desired 
to  render  your  Highness  a  very  minute  account  of  every 
thing  in  this  part  of  the  world,  I  wished  to  ascertain  the 
cause  of  this  phenomenon,  as  it  appeared  to  me,  and  I 
despatched  ten  of  my  companions,  such  as  I  thought 
suitable  for  this  purpose,  with   several   natives  of  the 
country  for  guides,  charging  them  to  use  every  endeavor 
to  ascend  the  mountain  and  find  out  the  cause  of  that 
smoke,  whence  and  how  it  was  produced.     They  went, 
and  struggled  with  all  their  might  to  reach  the  summit,- 
but  were  unable  on  account  of  the  great  quantity  of 
snow  that  lay  on  the  mountain,  and  the  whirlwinds  of 
ashes  that  swept  over  it,  and  also  because  they  found 
the  cold  above  insupportable ;  but  they  reached  very 
near  the  summit,  and  while  they  were  theref  the  smoke 
began  to  issue  forth  with  so  much  force  and  noise  that 
it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  Sierra  was  crumbling  to  the 
ground ;  so  they  descended,  and  brought  with  them  a 
considerable  quantity  of  snow  and  icicles,  that  we  might 
see  them,  as  it  was  something  quite  new  in  this  region 
on  account  of  its  being  in  so  warm  a  latitude,  according 
to  the  opinion  of  our  pilots,  who  place  it  in  20°,  which 
is  the  same  parallel  as  the  Island  of  Espanola,  where  the 
heat  is  at  all  times  extreme.     While  on  their  way  to  the 
mountain,  the  party  discovered  a  road,  and  inquired  of 
their  Indian  companions  where  it  led,  who  told  them  to 
Culua,  [Mexico,]  and  that  it  was  a  good  road,  while  the 
other,  which  the  Culuans  wished  us  to  take,  was  not  a 
good  one.     The  Spaniards  followed  this  road  until  they 
began  to  ascend  the  mountain,  between  which  and  the 
other  elevation  it  passed ;  and  from  it  they  discovered 
the  plains  of   Culua,  and  the  great  city    of    Temix- 

*  The  Indians  call  this  volcano  Popocatepetl,  or  the  Mountain  that  smokes. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  77 

titan,  [Mexico,]  and  the  lakes  in  that  province,  of  which 
I    shall    hereafter    give    your    Highness    an   account ; 
they  returned  overjoyed  on  having  discovered  so  good  a 
road,   and  God  knows  how  much  joy   I   felt   on   the 
occasion.     Having  obtained  all  the  information  I  could 
from  the  Spaniards  who  had  returned  from  their  visit 
to   the  mountain,   as   well    as   from  the  natives,    con- 
cerning the  road    they    had    discovered,   I    addressed 
myself  to  the  envoys   of  Muteczuma,   who    accompa- 
nied me  as  guides  to  their  country,  and  said  to  them, 
that  I  would  take  the  new  route  instead  of  that  which 
they    had   recommended,   as   it    was    shorter.       They 
answered  that  I  was  right,   that  the  new  route    was 
shorter  and  more  level,  and  that  the  reason  they  had  not 
pointed  it  out  to  me  was,  that  we  should  have  to  pass  one 
day  through  the  territory  of  Guasucingo,  [Guajozingo,] 
whose  inhabitants  were  their  enemies,  and  would  not 
furnish  supplies,  as  was  done  in  the  territory  of  Mutec- 
zuma ;  but  that  since  I  preferred  that  route,  they  would 
cause  provisions  to  be  sent  in  that  direction.     And  thus 
we  set  forth,  not  without  some  apprehension  that  they 
would  persist  in  their  endeavors  to  entrap  us ;  but  as 
we  had  already  declared  what  route  it  was  our  intention 
to  take,  it  did  not  seem  to  me  worth  while  to  change  our 
plan,  or  to  return  on  our  steps,  lest  they  should  imagine 
that  our  courage  failed  us.      On  the  day  that  I  left 
the  city  of  Cholula,  I  advanced  four  leagues  to  some 
villages  in  the  state  of  Guasucingo,  where   we   were 
well   received  by  the  natives,   who  gave  me   a   num- 
ber of  female  slaves,  some  cotton  cloth,  and  several 
small  pieces  of  gold,  amounting  altogether  to  very  little, 
as  the  people  are  not  well  supplied  with  it,  on  account 
of  their  belonging  to  the  league  and  party  of  the  Tlas- 

11 


78  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

calans,  and  being  so  closely  hemmed  in  on  all  sides  by 
the  territory  of  Muteczuma,  that  they  could  have  no 
trade  with  any  other  province  but  their  own ;  whence 
they  lived  very  poorly.  The  next  day  I  entered  the 
pass  between  the  two  mountains  already  mentioned,  and 
in  descending  it  we  discovered  the  province  of  Chalco, 
in  the  territory  of  Muteczuma,  two  leagues  from  us,  and 
when  we  had  reached  the  inhabited  parts,  we  found  a 
newly  constructed  building  for  our  quarters,  and  so 
large  that  all  my  men  and  myself  were  comfortably 
lodged  in  it,  although  I  had  with  me  more  than  four 
thousand  Indians,  natives  of  the  provinces  of  Tascal- 
tecal,  Guasucingo,  Churultecal,  and  Cempoal,  for  all 
of  whom  there  was  an  abundant  supply  of  provisions  ; 
and  there  were  large  fires  in  all  the  lodging-rooms,  with 
a  plenty  of  wood,  as  it  was  very  cold  on  account  of  the 
proximity  of  the  two  mountains*,  which  were  covered 
with  snow. 

There  came  to  me  at  this  place  several  persons,  ap- 
parently of  some  rank,  among  whom  was  one  that  I 
was  told  was  a  brother  of  Muteczuma.  They  brought 
me  gold  to  the  value  of  3,000  pesos,  and  said  on  behalf 
of  that  sovereign,  that  he  had  sent  me  this  present,  and 
at  the  same  time  requested  that  I  would  retrace  my  steps, 
and  not  think  of  visiting  his  city,  as  the  country  was  ill 
supplied  with  provisions,  and  the  road  that  led  to  it  was 
bad  ;.  and  that  the  city  was  all  on  the  water,  so  that  I 
could  not  enter  it  except  in  canoes,  and  with  many  other 
inconveniences  that  would  obstruct  my  course.  They 
added,  that  I  might  have  all  that  I  asked,  which  Mutec- 
zuma, their  sovereign,  had  commanded  them  to  give 
me ;  and  that  they  would  agree  to  pay  me  every  year  a 

*  Popocatepetl  and  Iztaccibuatl,  or  Sierra  Nevada. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  79 

certain  sum  (certum  quid),  which  they  would  carry  to 
the  sea,  or  wherever  I  wished.  I  received  them  kindly, 
and  spoke  to  them  of  our  Spain,  of  which  they  had 
heard  much,  addressing  myself  especially  to  the  one 
who  was  said  to  be  a  brother  of  Muteczuma.  In  answer 
to  their  official  communication,  I  said, — that  if  it  was  in 
my  power  to  return,  I  would  do  so  to  oblige  Muteczuma; 
but  that  I  had  come  into  this  country  by  the  command 
of  your  Majesty,  and  that  I  was  particularly  charged  to 
render  an  account  of  Muteczuma  and  his  great  city,  of 
the  fame  of  which  your  Highness  had  long  since  heard — 
that  they  might  assure  him  from  me,  that  I  was  ex- 
tremely desirous  he  should  take  my  visit  to  him  in  good 
part,  since  it  would  be  productive  of  no  injury,  but 
rather  of  advantage  to  his  person  and  country ;  that 
after  I  had  seen  him,  if  it  was  still  his  wish  not  to  have 
my  company,  I  would  then  return  ;  and  that  we  should 
be  better  able  to  agree  in  person,  as  to  the  homage  he 
should  render  to  your  Highness,  than  through  the  agency 
of  others,  however  trustworthy  they  might  be.  With 
this  answer  they  returned.  Judging  from  the  appear- 
ance of  our  quarters,  and  the  arrangements  made  re- 
specting them,  it  struck  me  that  the  Indians  intended 
to  attack  us  that  night ;  but  on  perceiving  this,  I  took 
such  precautions  as,  coming  to  their  knowledge,  changed 
their  determination ;  and  they  drew  off  that  night  very 
secretly  a  large  force,  which  they  had  placed  in  the 
mountains  adjacent  to  our  camp,  as  was  observed  by 
many  of  our  scouts  and  sentinels. 

As  soon  as  it  was  day  I  set  out  for  a  town  two  leagues 
distant,  called  Amaqueruca,*  in  the  province  of  Chalco, 

*  Now  Araecameca. 


80  LETTERS    OP    CORTES. 

which  contains  a  population,  including  the  villages  within 
two  leagues  of  it,  of  more  than  twenty  thousand  inhabit- 
ants. In  this  place  they  quartered  us  in  the  excellent 
houses  of  the  governor.  Many  persons,  apparently  of  a 
superior  rank,  here  waited  upon  me,  and  announced  that 
Muteczuma,  their  sovereign  lord,  had  sent  them  to 
receive  me  at  this  place^  with  orders  to  provide  every 
thing  necessary  to  supply  our  wants.  The  governor  of 
this  province  and  town  presented  me  with  forty  slaves^ 
and  3000  castellanos,  and  during  the  two  days  that  I  was 
there  supplied  us  with  an  abundance  of  provisions.  The 
next  day— accompanied  by  the  envoys  of  Muteczuma 
who  received  us  here— rl  departed  and  reached  for  the 
night  a  small  place  four  leagues  distant,  situated  partly 
upon  a  great  lake,  and  partly  upon  a  rough,  rocky  moun- 
tain, where  we  were  well  lodged.  Here  likewise  they 
would  have  tried  our  strength,  but  that  they  desired  to 
do  so  without  danger  to  themselves,  as  it  seemed,  by 
attacking  us  in  the  night,  when  they  expected  to  take  us 
by  surprise.  But  as  I  was  well  informed  of  their  inten- 
tions, they  found  that  I  had  anticipated  their  designs. 
That  night  I  placed  a  strong  guard,  who  took  and  killed 
fifteen  or  twenty  spies  that  came  in  canoes  on  the  lake, 
or  descended  the  mountain  to  see  whether  I  was  pre-? 
pared  to  resist  an  attack.  Thus  few  of  them  returned 
to  give  the  information  they  were  sent  to  obtain ;  and 
finding  us  always  upon  our  guard,  they  concluded  to 
change  their  plans,  and  to  suffer  us  to  proceed  in  safety. 
The  next  morning  when  I  was  about  leaving  that  place, 
there  arrived  ten  or  twelve  of  the  most  distinguished 
personages,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  and  among  them  a 

*  Slavery  had  been  already  introduced  among  the  Mexicans,  and  the  sons  of 
those  whom  they  had  taken  in  war  were  reduced  to  a  sort  of  servitude. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  81 

young  man  of  about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  to  whom 
all  showed  particular  marks  of  respect ;  and  after  he  had 
alighted  from  a  litter  in  which  he  came,  the  others  began 
to  remove  stones  out  of  his  path,  and  to  clear  up  the 
ground  before  him.*  As  soon  as  they  arrived  they  an- 
nounced that  they  had  come  on  the  part  of  Muteczuma, 
their  liege  lord,  who  had  sent  them  to  accompany  me, 
and  begged  that  I  would  pardon  him  for  not  coming  him- 
self to  receive  me,  which  he  was  unable  to  do  on  account 
of  indisposition  ;  but  that  the  city  was  now  near  at  hand, 
and  as  I  was  still  determined  to  visit  it,  he  would  receive 
us  there,  when  I  should  learn  his  willingness  to  do  homage 
to  your  Highness.  But,  nevertheless,  he  entreated  that 
if  it  was  possible,  I  would  not  go  to  the  city,  for  I  should 
meet  with  much  trouble  and  want,  and  he  would  be 
ashamed  not  to  be  able  to  provide  for  me  there  in  the 
manner  he  wished.  The  envoys  also  earnestly  insisted 
on  the  same  thing,  and  were  extremely  importunate ;  at 
the  same  time  assuring  me  that  they  would  protect  us 
on  the  route  if  I  persisted  in  proceeding.  I  made  them 
a  courteous  reply,  and  calmed  their  anxiety  by  the 
mildest  language  in  my  power,  giving  them  to  under- 
stand that  my  visit  would  not  be  attended  with  injury, 
but  advantage  to  Muteczuma.  And  thus  they  took  their 
leave,  after  I  had  made  them  presents  of  some  things 
that  I  had  brought  with  me.  I  soon  followed  them,  being 
accompanied  by  many  persons  who  appeared  to  be  of 
great  consideration,  as  I  afterwards  learned  was  the 
case.  .^As  I  was  pursuing  the  road  that  led  along  the 
shore  of  the  great  lake,  at  the  distance  of  a  league  from 
the  place  of  our  departure,  I  discovered  upon  the  surface 

*  At  the  present  day  the  Indians  preserve  the  custom  of  removing  stones  from 
the  road  when  preceding  any  person  of  elevated  rank,  as  I  have  noticed  when 
going  into  the  country  attended  by  them. — L. 


82  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

of  the  water  a  small  town,  that  might  contain  from  one 
to  two  thousand  inhabitants,  well  fortified  and  defended 
with  towers,  as  it  appeared  on  the  outside,  but  without 
any  entrance.*  A  league  farther  on  we  came  to  a  cause- 
way of  the  width  of  a  spear's  length,  running  two  thirds 
of  a  league  into  the  lake,  which  led  to  a  city  that,  although 
small,  was  the  most  beautiful  we  had  yet  seen,  composed 
of  well-constructed  houses  and  toweis,  having  the  foun- 
dations laid  with  great  regularity  and  wholly  in  the  water. 
-—■■""In  this  city,  which  contains  about  two  thousand  inhabit- 
ants, we  were  well  received,  and  entertained  with  a 
handsome  repast.  The  chief  magistrate  and  other 
persons  of  rank  came  to  see  me,  and  requested  that  I 
would  pass  the  night  there.  But  some  of  Muteczuma's 
people  who  were  with  me  advised  me  not  to  stop,  but  to 
go  on  to  another  city,  three  leagues  distant,  called  Izta- 
palapa,  belonging  to  a  brother  of  Muteczuma,  and  I  ac- 
cordingly did  so.  The  road  from  the  city  where  we  had 
our  repast,  the  name  of  which  does  not  now  occur  to 
me,  was  by  another  causeway,  which  is  a  full  league  in 
length  to  terra  firma.  Having  arrived  at  the  city  of 
Iztapalapa,  the  cacique  came  to  receive  me  at  some  dis- 
tance from  the  town,  together  with  another  dignitary  of 
a  great  city  about  three  leagues  off,  called  Calnaacan, 
[Culhuacan]  accompanied  by  many  other  distinguished 
personages,  who  were  expecting  my  arrival  there,  and 
presented  me  with  3  or  4000  castellanos,  some  slaves, 
and  cotton  cloth,  giving  me  altogether  a  very  agreeable 
reception. 

The  city  of  Iztapalapa  contains  twelve  or  fifteen  thou- 

*  The  cities  of  which  mention  is  here  made,  are,  first,  Iztapaluca,  which  is 
next  beyond  Chalco  on  the  road  to  Mexico ;  then  Thlahuac,  Misquic,  and  Cul- 
huacan, all  of  which  are  situated  on  the  water. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  83 

sand  houses  ;  it  is  situated  on  the  shore  of  a  large  salt 
lake,  one-half  of  it  being  built  upon  the  water,  and  one- 
half  on  terra  firma.*  The  governor  or  chief  of  the  city- 
has  several  new  houses,  which,  although  they  are  not  yet 
finished,  are  equal  to  the  better  class  of  houses  in  Spain 
— being  large  and  well  constructed,  in  the  stone  work, 
the  carpentry,  the  floors,  and  the  various  appendages 
necessary  to  render  a  house  complete,  excepting  the  re- 
liefs and  other  rich  work  usual  in  Spanish  houses.  There 
are  also  many  upper  and  lower  rooms — cool  gardens, 
abounding  in  trees  and  odoriferous  flowers ;  also  pools 
of  fresh  water,  well  constructed,  with  stairs  leading  to 
the  bottom.  There  is  also  a  very  extensive  kitchen  gar- 
den attached  to  the  house,  and  over  it  a  belvidere  with 
beautiful  corridors  and  halls ;  and  within  the  garden  a 
large  square  pond  of  fresh  water,t  having  its  walls 
formed  of  handsome  hewn  stone  ;  and  adjacent  to  it 
there  is  a  promenade,  consisting  of  a  tiled  pavement  so 
broad  that  four  persons  can  walk  on  it  abreast,  and  four 
hundred  paces  square,  or  sixteen  hundred  paces  round ; 
enclosed  on  one  side  towards  the  wall  of  the  garden  by 
canes,  intermingled  with  vergas,  and  on  the  other  side  by 
shrubs  and  sweet-scented  plants.  The  pond  contains  a 
great  variety  of  fish  and  water-fowl,  as  wild  ducks,!  teal, 

*  Iztapalapa  preserves  to  this  day  the  same  name,  and  many  remains  of  the 
houses  here  described  by  Cortes ;  since  in  taking  earth  from  the  middle  for  bricks, 
several  high  platforms  are  seen  on  which  buildings  were  erected  to  protect  the 
inhabitants  in  case  of  an  inundation. — L. 

t  The  site  of  this  pond  [alberca]  is,  at  the  present  day,  covered  by  the  lake 
Tezcuco,  but  there  are  still  seen  the  remains  and  fragments  of  the  edifice  de- 
scribed above. — L. 

t  Innumerable  ducks  and  geese  are  at  the  present  day  killed  on  the  lake  in 
various  ways  ;  one  mode  is  with  a  large  handgun,  called  by  the  Indians,  Esme- 
ril ;  another  is,  for  the  Indians  to  cover  their  heads  with  a  hollow  pumpkin,  and 
concealing  the  body  beneath  the  water,  they  seize  the  ducks  with  the  hand ;  an- 
other is,  by  taking  them  in  nets  during  the  night. — L. 


84  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

and  others  so  numerous  that  they  often  cover  the  sur- 
face of  the  water.  The  next  day  after  my  arrival  at 
this  city  I  departed  on  my  route,  and  having  proceeded 
half  a  league,  I  entered  upon  a  causeway  that  extends 
two  leagues  through  the  centre  of  the  salt  lake,  until  it 
reaches  the  great  city  of  Temixtitan,  [Mexico,]  which  is 
built  in  the  middle  of  the  lake.  This  causeway  is  as 
broad  as  two  spears'  length,  and  well  constructed,  so 
that  eight  horsemen  can  ride  on  it  abreast ;  and  within 
two  leagues,  on  either  side  of  this  causeway,  there  are 
three  cities,  one  of  which,  called  Mesicalsingo,  is  built 
for  the  most  part  on  the  lake,  and  the  two  others,  called 
Nyciaca  and  Huchilohuchico,  are  situated  along  its  bor- 
ders, with  many  houses  on  the  water.  The  former  of 
these  cities  contains  about  three  thousand  families,  the 
second  more  than  six  thousand,  and  the  third  four  or 
five  thousand ;  in  all  of  them  are  well  built  houses  and 
towers,  especially  the  residences  of  the  governors  and 
principal  men,  and  the  mosques  or  temples,  in  which 
they  have  their  idols.  In  these  cities  there  is  a  conside- 
rable trade  in  salt,  Which  is  manufactured  from  the 
water  of  the  lake,  and  from  a  deposit  on  the  grounds 
washed  by  the  lake,  which  they  boil  in  some  way,  and 
make  into  loaves,  selling  it  to  the  natives  and  persons 
out  of  the  district  or  province. 

I  pursued  my  course  over  the  abovementioned  cause- 
way, and  having  proceeded  half  a  league  before  arri- 
ving at  the  body  of  the  city  of  Temixtitan,  I  found  at 
its  intersection  with  another  causeway,  which  extends 
from  this  point  to  terra  firma,  a  very  strong  fortress  with 
two  towers,  surrounded  by  a  double  wall,  twelve  feet  in 
height,  with  an  embattled  parapet,  which  commands 
the  two  causeways,  and  has  only  two  gates,  one  for 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  85 

entering,  and  the  other  for  departure.  There  came  to 
meet  me  at  this  place  nearly  a  thousand  of  the  principal 
inhabitants  of  the  great  city,  all  uniformly  dressed  ac- 
cording to  their  custom  in  very  rich  costumes ;  and  as 
soon  as  they  had  come  within  speaking  distance,  each 
one,  as  he  approached  me,  performed  a  salutation  in 
much  use  among  them,  by  placing  his  hand  upon  the 
ground  and  kissing  it ;  and  thus  I  was  kept  waiting 
about  an  hour,  until  all  had  performed  the  ceremony. 
Connected  with  the  city  is  a  wooden  bridge  ten  paces 
wide,  where  the  causeway  is  open  to  allow  the  water 
free  ingress  and  egress,  as  it  rises  and  falls  ;  and  also  for 
the  security  of  the  city,  as  they  can  remove  the  long 
and  wide  beams  of  which  the  bridge  is  formed,  and  re- 
place them  whenever  they  wish ;  and  there  are  many 
such  bridges  in  different  parts  of  the  city,  as  your  High- 
ness will  perceive  hereafter  from  the  particular  account 
I  shall  give  of  it. 

When  we  had  passed  the  bridge,  the  Senor  Mutec- 
zuma  came  out  to  receive  us,  attended  by  about  two 
hundred  nobles,  all  barefooted  and  dressed  in  livery, 
or  a  peculiar  garb  of  fine  cotton,  richer  than  is  usually 
worn  ;  they  came  in  two  processions  in  close  proximity 
to  the  houses  on  each  side  of  the  street,*  which  is  very 
wide  and  beautiful,  and  so  straight  that  you  can  see  from 
one  end  of  it  to  the  other,  although  it  is  two  thirds  of  a 
league  in  length,  having  on  both  sides  large  and  elegant 
houses  and  temples.  Muteczuma  came  through  the 
centre  of  the  street,  attended  by  two  lords,  one  upon 
his  right,  and  the  other  upon  his  left  hand,  one  of  whom 

*  The  streets  are  so  different  at  the  present  time,  that  we  are  unable  to  form  a 
clear  idea  of  what  they  then  were,  but  this  street  seems  to  be  the  same  that 
now  crosses  the  city  from  the  Hospital  of  St.  Antonio. — L. 

12 


86  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

was  the  same  nobleman  who,  as  I  have  mentioned,  came 
to  meet  me  in  a  litter  ;  and  the  other  was  the  brother  of 
Muteczuma,  lord  of  the  city  of  Iztapalapa,  which  I  had 
left  the  same  day ;  all  three  were  dressed  in  the  same 
manner,  except  that  Muteczuma  wore  shoes,  while 
the  others  were  without  them.  He  was  supported  on 
the  arms  of  both,  and  as  we  approached,  I  alighted  and 
advanced  alone  to  salute  him ;  but  the  two  attendant 
lords  stopped  me  to  prevent  my  touching  him,  and  they 
and  he  both  performed  the  ceremony  of  kissing  the 
ground  ;  after  which  he  directed  his  brother  who  accom- 
panied him  to  remain  with  me ;  the  latter  accordingly 
took  me  by  the  arm,  while  Muteczuma,  with  his  other 
attendant,  walked  a  short  distance  in  front  of  me,  and 
after  he  had  spoken  to  me,  all  the  other  nobles  also  came 
up  to  address  me,  and  then  went  away  in  two  proces- 
sions with  great  regularity,  one  after  the  other,  and  in 
this  manner  returned  to  the  city.  At  the  time  I  ad- 
vanced to  speak  to  Muteczuma,  I  took  off  from  myself  a 
collar  of  pearls  and  glass  diamonds,*  and  put  it  around 
his  neck.  After  having  proceeded  along  the  street,  one 
of  his  servants  came  bringing  two  collars  formed  of  shell 
fish,  enclosed  in  a  roll  of  cloth,  which  were  made  from 
the  shells  of  colored  prawns  or  periwinkles,  held  by  them 
in  high  estimation ;  and  from  each  collar  depended 
eight  golden  prawns,  finished  in  a  very  perfect  manner, 
about  a  foot  and  a  half  in  length.f  When  these  were 
brought,  Muteczuma  turned  towards  me  and  put  them 
round  my  neck ;  he  then  returned  along  the  street  in  the 


*  Pearls  and  glass  crystals,  of  great  estimation  with  the  Indians,  who  had 
never  seen  glass  or  crystal. — L. 

t  They  are  still  called  prawns  (camazones,)  corresponding  in  some  degree  to 
strings  of  coral. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  87 

order  already  described,  until  he  reached  a  very  large 
and  splendid  palace,  in  which  we  were  to  be  quartered, 
which  had  been  fully  prepared  for  our  reception.  He 
there  took  me  by  the  hand  and  led  me  into  a  spacious 
saloon,  in  front  of  which  was  a  court,  through  which  we 
entered.  Having  caused  me  to  sit  down  on  a  piece  of 
rich  carpeting,  which  he  had  ordered  to  be  made  for  his 
own  use,  he  told  me  to  wait  his  return  there,*  and  then 
went  away.  After  a  short  space  of  time,  when  my 
people  were  all  bestowed  in  their  quarters,  he  returned 
with  many  and  various  jewels  of  gold  and  silver,  feather- 
work,  and  five  or  six  thousand  pieces  of  cotton  cloth, 
very  rich  and  of  varied  texture  and  finish.  After  having 
presented  these  to  me,  he  sat  down  on  another  piece  of 
carpet  they  had  placed  for  him  near  me,  and  being 
seated  he  discoursed  as  follows  : — 

"  It  is  now  a  long  time  since,  by  means  of  written 
records,  we  learned  from  our  ancestors  that  neither  my- 
self nor  any  of  those  who  inhabit  this  region  were  de- 
scended from  its  original  inhabitants,  but  from  strangers 
who  emigrated  hither  from  a  very  distant  land ;  and  we 
have  also  learned  that  a  prince,  whose  vassals  they  all 
were,  conducted  our  people  into  these  parts,  and  then 
returned  to  his  native  land.  He  afterwards  came  again 
to  this  country,  after  the  lapse  of  much  time,  and  found 
that  his  people  had  intermarried  with  the  native  inhabit- 
ants, by  whom  they  had  many  children,  and  had  built 
towns  in  which  they  resided ;  and  when  he  desired  them 
to  return  with  him,  they  were  unwilling  to  go,  nor  were 
they  disposed  to  acknowledge  him  as  their  sovereign  ; 
so  he  departed  from  the  country,  and  we  have  always 
heard  that  his  descendants  would  come  to  conquer  this 

*  They  sat  like  Asiatics  on  the  floor,  in  a  recumbent  posture,  or  on  a  carpet. — L. 


88  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

land,  and  reduce  us  to  subjection  as  his  vassals  ;  and 
according  to  the  direction  from  which  you  say  you  have 
come,  namely,  the  quarter  where  the  sun  rises,  and  from 
what  you  say  of  the  great  lord  or  king  who  sent  you 
hither,  we  believe  and  are  assured  that  he  is  our  natu- 
ral sovereign,  especially  as  you  say  that  it  is  a  long  time 
since  you  first  had  knowledge  of  us.      Therefore  be 
assured  that  we  will  obey  you,  and  acknowledge  you 
for  our  sovereign  in  place  of  the  great  lord  whom  you 
mention,  and  that  there  shall  be  no  default  or  deception 
on  our  part.     And  you  have  the  power  in  all  this  land, 
I  mean  wherever  my  power  extends,  to  command  what 
is  your  pleasure,  and  it  shall  be  done  in  obedience  there- 
to, and  all  that  we  have  is  at  your  disposal.     And  since 
you  are  in  your  own  proper  land  and  your  own  house, 
rest  and  refresh  yourselves  after  the  toils  of  your  journey, 
and  the  conflicts  in  which  you  have  been  engaged,  which 
have  been  brought  upon  you,  as  I  well  know,  by  all  the 
people  from  Puntunchan*  to  this  place ;  and  I  am  aware 
that  the  Cempoallans  and    Tlascalans    have  told  you 
much  evil  of  me,  but  believe  no  more  than  you  see  with 
your   own  eyes,   especially  from   those   who    are    my 
enemies,  some  of  whom  were  once  my  subjects,  and 
having  rebelled  upon  your  arrival,  make  these  state- 
ments to  ingratiate  themselves  in  your  favor.      These 
people,  I  know,  have  informed  you   that  I  possessed 
houses  with  walls  of  gold,  and  that  my  carpets  and  other 
things  in  common  use  were  of  the  texture  of  gold  ;  and 
that  I  was  a  god,  or  made  myself  one,  and  many  other 
such  things.     The  houses  you  see  are  of  stone  and  lime 
and  earth*"     And  then  he  opened  his  robes  and  showed 

*  Province  of  Potinchan,  or  Potonchan,  in  Tabasco,  now  called  Pueblo  la 
Victoria. — JL 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  89 

his  person  to  me,  saying,  "  You  see  that  I  am  composed 
of  flesh  and  bone  like  yourselves,  and  that  I  am  mortal, 
and  palpable  to  the  touch,"  at  the  same  time  pinching 
his  arms  and  body  with  his  hands  j  "  see,"  he  continued, 
"  how  they  have  deceived  you.  It  is  true  I  have  some 
things  of  gold,  which  my  ancestors  have  left  me  ;  all  that 
I  have  is  at  your  service  whenever  you  wish  it.  I  am 
now  going  to  my  other  houses  where  I  reside  ;  you  will 
be  here  provided  with  every  thing  necessary  for  your- 
self and  your  people,  and  will  suffer  no  embarrassment, 
as  you  are  in  your  own  house  and  country."  I  answer- 
ed him  in  respect  to  all  that  he  had  said,  expressing  my 
acknowledgments,  and  adding  whatever  the  occasion 
seemed  to  demand,  especially  endeavoring  to  confirm 
him  in  the  belief  that  your  Majesty  was  the  sovereign 
they  had  looked  for ;  and  after  this  he  took  his  leave, 
and  having  gone,  we  were  liberally  supplied  with  fowls, 
bread,  fruits,  and  other  things  required  for  the  use  of  our 
quarters.  In  this  way  I  was  for  six  days  amply  provided 
with  all  that  was  necessary,  and  visited  by  many  of  the 
nobility.  ^( 

I  mentioned,  most  Catholic  Sire,  at  the  commencement 
of  this  letter,  that  at  the  time  I  departed  from  the  city  of 
Vera  Cruz  in  quest  of  this  Sefior  Muteczuma,  I  left  there 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  erect  a  fort,  which  had 
been  already  begun  ;  and  I  also  stated  that  I  had  left 
many  towns  and  fortified  places  in  the  neighborhood  of 
that  city  in  subjection  to  the  royal  dominion  of  your 
Highness,  and  the  inhabitants  secure  and  decided  in 
their  allegiance  to  your  Majesty.  While  I  was  in  the 
city  of  Churultecal,  [Cholula,}  I  received  letters  from 
the  commander,  whom  I  had  stationed  in  my  place  at 
Vera  Cruz,  informing  me  that  Qualpopoca,  lord  of  the 


90  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

city  of  Almeria,*  had  sent  messengers  to  announce  that 
he  desired  to  become  a  subject  of  your  Highness,  and  if 
he  had  not  appeared  before,  and  still  did  not  appear,  to 
render  that  homage  which  it  was  his  duty  to  yield,  and 
to  offer  himself  with  all  his  territories  as  a  vassal  to  your 
Majesty,  the  reason  was,  that  he  would  be  compelled  to 
pass  through  his  enemies'  country,  which  he  had  not  done 
in  consequence  of  his  apprehension  of  an  attack  from 
them ;  but  that  if  I  would  despatch  to  him  four  Spaniards, 
they  might  accompany  him,  and  the  people  through  whose 
lands  they  would  have  to  pass,  knowing  for  what  pur- 
pose they  came,  would  not  molest  them ;  and  thus  he 
would  be  able  to  come  to  us  at  once.  The  captain,  be- 
lieving that  Qualpopoca  was  sincere  in  what  he  said,  as 
many  others  had  done  the  same  thing,  sent  four  Span- 
iards to  him  ;  but  when  he  had  got  them  into  his  power, 
he  ordered  them  to  be  put  to  death,  in  such  a  way  that  it 
might  not  appear  to  have  been  done  through  his  means  ; 
and  thus  two  of  them  were  killed,  while  the  others  effec- 
ted their  escape  across  the  mountains,  though  wounded. 
Thereupon  the  captain  marched  against  the  city  of  Al- 
meria with  fifty  Spaniards,  two  horsemen,  and  two 
pieces  of  fire-arms,  and  a  force  of  from  eight  to  ten  thou- 
sand friendly  Indians,  with  which  he  fought  the  inhabit- 
ants of  that  city  and  killed  many  of  them,  driving  the 
rest  away,  and  burning  and  destroying  the  city.  The 
Indians  who  had  accompanied  him,  being  enemies  to  the 
Almerians,  aided  in  the  attack  with  great  spirit  and  vigor. 
Qualpopoca  himself,  together  with  the  other  caciques,  his 
allies,  who  had  come  to  his  assistance,  escaped  by  flight, 
and  some  prisoners  who  were  taken  in  the  city  gave  in- 

*  So  called  by  Cortes,  but  by  the  Mexicans,  Nauthla. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  91 

formation  as  to  the  people  engaged  in  its  defence,  and  the 
cause  of  their  killing  the  Spaniards  that  had  been  sent 
to  them.  They  said  that  Muteczuma  had  ordered  Qual- 
popoca  and  the  others  who  had  come  there  as  his  vassals, 
(for  such  they  were,)  that  when  I  left  the  city  of  Vera 
Cruz,  they  should  fall  upon  those  who  had  rebelled  and 
entered  the  service  of  your  Highness ;  and  that  they 
should  devise  every  means  of  destroying  the  Spaniards 
I  had  left  there,  so  that  they  might  not  aid  or  favor  us ; 
and  that  accordingly,  in  consequence  of  these  orders, 
they  had  done  so. 

Six  days  having  passed,  most  powerful  Prince,  since 
I  entered  the  great  city  of  Temixtitan,  and  having  seen 
some  things  in  it,  though  but  a  few  compared  with  what 
there  was  to  be  seen  and  noted,  it  seemed  to  me,  judg- 
ing from  these  things,  and  from  what  I  had  observed  of 
the  country,  that  it  would  subserve  the  interests  of  your 
Majesty  and  our  own  security  if  Muteczuma  was  in  my 
power,  and  not  wholly  free  from  restraint;  in  order 
that  he  might  not  be  diverted  from  the  resolution  and 
willing  spirit  which  he  showed  in  the  service  of  your 
Majesty,  especially  as  we  Spaniards  were  somewhat 
troublesome  and  difficult  to  please ;  lest  feeling  annoyed 
on  any  occasion,  he  should  do  us  some  serious  injury, 
and  even  might  cause  all  memory  of  us  to  perish,  in  the 
exercise  of  his  great  power.  It  also  appeared  to  me 
that  if  he  was  under  my  control,  all  the  other  coun- 
tries that  were  subject  to  him  would  be  more  easily 
brought  to  the  knowledge  and  service  of  your  Majesty, 
as  afterwards  actually  happened.  I  resolved,  therefore,  to 
take  him  and  place  him  in  my  quarters,  which  were  of 
great  strength ;  and  revolving  in  my  mind  how  this  could 
be  effected  without  occasioning  any  tumult  or  disturb- 


92  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

ance,  I  recollected  what  the  officer  whom  I  had  left  in 
command  at  Vera  Cruz,  had  written  me  concerning  the 
occurrences  in  the  city  of  Almeria,  which  I  have  already 
related,  and  which,  as  he  was  informed,  had  all  taken 
place  in  pursuance  of  orders  from  Muteczuma.  Having 
used  the  precaution  to  station  guards  at  the  corners  of 
the  streets,  I  went  to  the  palace  of  Muteczuma,  as  I  had 
before  often  done  to  visit  him  ;  and  after  conversing  with 
him  in  a  sportive  manner  on  agreeable  topics,  and  receiv- 
ing at  his  hands  some  jewels  of  gold,  and  one  of  his  own 
daughters,  together  with  several  daughters  of  his  nobles 
for  some  of  my  company,  I  then  said  to  him,  "  that  I  had 
been  informed  of  what  had  taken  place  in  the  city  of 
Nautecal  or  Almeria,  and  of  the  fate  of  the  Spaniards, 
who  had  been  killed  there  ;  that  Qualpopoca  alleged  in 
defence  of  his  conduct,  that  whatever  he  had  done  was 
in  pursuance  of  orders  from  him,  which,  as  his  vassal, 
he  could  not  disregard  ;  that  I  did  not  believe  it  was  so, 
but  nevertheless,  in  order  to  clear  himself  from  the  impu- 
tation, it  seemed  to  me  proper  that  he  should  send  for 
Qualpopoca  and  the  other  principal  men  of  that  city, 
who  had  been  concerned  in  the  slaughter  of  the  Span- 
iards, that  the  truth  of  the  matter  might  be  known,  and 
those  men  punished,  by  which  means  he  would  satisfy 
your  Majesty  of  his  loyal  disposition  beyond  all  dispute ; 
lest  instead  of  the  rewards  which  your  Majesty  would  or- 
der to  be  given  him,  the  reports  of  these  outrages  might 
provoke  your  Majesty's  anger  against  him,  on  account  of 
his  having  commanded  the  injury  to  be  done ;  since  I 
was  well  satisfied  that  the  truth  was  contrary  to  what 
those  men  had  declared." 

Immediately  Muteczuma  ordered  certain  of  his  follow- 
ers to  be  called,  to  whom  he  gave  a  small  stone  resem- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  93 

bling  a  seal,  which  he  wore  upon  his  arm,  and  ordered 
them  to  go  to  the  city  of  Almeria,  which  is  sixty  or 
seventy  leagues  from  Mextitan,  [Mexico,]  and  conduct 
Qualpopoca  hither ;  and  having  ascertained  what  others 
were  concerned  in  the  murder  of  the  Spaniards,  to  have 
them  come  likewise ;  that  if  they  refused  to  come  volun- 
tarily, they  should  be  brought  as  prisoners  ;  and  if  they 
resisted,  they  should  call  upon  the  communities  adjacent 
to  that  city,  which  he  indicated  to  them,  for  an  armed 
force  to  assist  in  taking  the  offenders  ;•  and  that  they 
should  by  no  means  return  without  them.  These  per- 
sons departed  at  once,  and  when  -they  had  gone,  I  said 
to  Muteczuma,  that  I  was  pleased  with  his  diligence  in 
this  matter,  since  I  should  have  to  render  an  account  to 
your  Majesty  of  the  Spaniards  who  had  been  killed.  As 
for  what  remained  of  my  duty  in  the  premises,  I  must 
have  him  in  my  quarters  until  the  truth  was  more  clearly 
ascertained,  and  himself  shown  to  be  free  from  blame  ; 
and  I  begged  him  to  suffer  no  uneasiness  on  this  account, 
as  he  would  not  be  treated  as  a  prisoner,  but  left  in  the 
full  possession  of  his  liberty  ;  that  no  obstacle  should  be 
interposed  to  his  enjoying  the  service  of  his  followers, 
who  would  continue  to  be  at  his  command ;  that  he 
might  select  an  apartment,  such  as  would  please  him,  in 
the  palace  I  occupied,  where  he  would  be  at  his  ease ; 
that  he  might  rest  assured  that  nothing  should  be  allow- 
ed to  give  him  pain  or  inconvenience  ;  and  that  in  addi- 
tion to  his  own  servants,  my  companions  would  cheer- 
fully obey  all  his  commands.  Much  conversation  and 
discourse  followed  in  regard  to  this  arrangement,  too 
long  to  be  described  at  length,  and  even  to  be  repeated 
to  your  Majesty,  being  not  only  prolix,  but  scarcely  ma- 
terial to  the  case ;  and,  therefore,  I  shall  say  no  more 

13 


94  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

than  that,  finally,  he  expressed  his  willingness  to  go  with 
me.  He  immediately  gave  orders  to  have  the  apart- 
ment he  wished  to  occupy  put  in  order  for  his  use,  which 
was  well  situated  and  handsomely  fitted  up ;  and  this 
being  done,  many  nobles  came  to  him,  stripped  of  their 
robes,  which  they  carried  hanging  upon  their  arms,  and 
bare-footed,  bringing  a  litter,  not  in  the  best  order,  on 
which,  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  they  placed  him  in  deep 
silence  ;  and  in  this  manner  we  proceeded  to  the  quar- 
ters which  I  occupied,  without  exciting  any  commotion 
in  the  city,  although  some  signs  of  a  disturbance  began  to 
appear.  But  as  soon  as  Muteczuma  heard  of  it,  he  sent 
orders  forbidding  any  movement ;  and  thus  all  remained 
quiet  as  before,  and  continued  so  during  the  whole  time 
that  Muteczuma  was  my  prisoner,  since  he  was  entirely 
at  his  ease,  with  the  same  attendance  that  he  had  been 
accustomed  to  in  his  own  palace,  which  was  very  large 
and  splendid,  as  I  shall  hereafter  relate  ;  and  I  and  my 
companions  did  every  thing  in  our  power  to  gratify  his 
wishes. 

Fifteen  or  twenty  days  after  his  imprisonment,  the 
messengers  arrived  that  Muteczuma  had  sent  in  quest 
of  Qualpopoca  and  the  others  concerned  in  the  murder 
of  the  Spaniards  ;  and  they  brought  with  them  that  chief 
and  his  sons,  together  with  fifteen  persons  who  were 
said  to  be  men  of  rank,  and  implicated  in  the  affair. 
Qualpopoca  was  brought  on  a  litter,  much  in  the  style 
of  a  governor,  as  in  fact  he  was.  They  were  delivered 
into  my  hands,  and  I  caused  them  to  be  placed  under  a 
strong  guard  ;  and  when  they  acknowledged  that  they 
had  killed  the  Spaniards,  I  directed  them  to  be  asked  if 
they  were  the  vassals  of  Muteczuma  ?  Qualpopoca  re- 
plied— "  If  I  have  any  other  sovereign,  who  is  it  ?"  as 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  95 

much  as  to  say  that  he  had  no  other,  and  that  they  were 
his  vassals.  I  also  inquired  if  what  had  been  done  by 
them  was  by  his  command  ?  They  answered,  no  ;  al- 
though afterwards,  when  the  sentence  of  death  by  burn- 
ing was  about  to  be  executed  upon  them,  they  all  with 
one  voice  declared  that  Muteczuma  had  sent  to  command 
it  to  be  done,  and  that  they  had  acted  in  pursuance  of 
his  orders.  So  they  were  publicly  burned  in  a  square 
of  the  city,  without  creating  any  disturbance  ;  and  on 
the  day  of  their  execution,  as  they  confessed  that  Mutec- 
zuma had  directed  them  to  kill  the  Spaniards,  I  caused 
him  to  be  put  in  irons,  which  threw  him  into  great  con- 
sternation. On  the  same  day,  however,  after  having 
spoken  to  him,  I  caused  his  irons  to  be  removed,  and 
left  him  quite  satisfied  ;  and  from  that  time  I  exerted 
myself  to  gratify  his  wishes,  and  render  him  contented 
by  all  means  in  my  power.  I  publicly  announced  and 
declared  to  all  the  natives  of  the  country,  as  well  to  the 
governors  as  to  the  people  who  came  to  me,  that  your 
Majesty's  service  would  be  promoted  by  Muteczuma's 
remaining  at  the  head  of  his  government,  only  acknow- 
ledging your  Majesty's  superiority,  and  that  your  Ma- 
jesty would  be  pleased  by  their  obeying  and  respect- 
ing Muteczuma  as  their  sovereign,  as  they  had  done  be- 
fore my  arrival  in  the  country.  Such  was  the  kindness 
of  my  treatment  towards  him,  and  his  own  contentment 
with  his  situation,  that  when  at  different  times  I  tempt- 
ed him  with  the  offer  of  his  liberty,  begging  that  he 
would  return  to  his  palace,  he  as  often  replied  that  he 
was  well  pleased  with  his  present  quarters,  and  did  not 
wish  to  leave  them,  as  he  wanted  nothing  that  he  was 
accustomed  to  enjoy  in  his  own  palace  ;  and  that  in 
case  he  went  away,  there  would  be  reason  to  fear  the 


96  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

importunities  of  the  local  governors,  his  vassals,  might 
lead  him  to  act  against  his  own  wishes,  and  in  opposi- 
tion to  your  Majesty,  while  he  desired  in  every  possible 
manner  to  promote  your  Majesty's  service  ;  that  so  far 
he  had  informed  them  what  he  desired  to  have  done, 
and  was  well  content  to  remain  where  he  was  ;  and 
should  they  wish  to  suggest  any  thing  to  him,  he  could 
answer  that  he  was  not  at  liberty,  and  thus  excuse  him- 
self from  attending  to  them.  Several  times  he  asked 
permission  to  visit  his  pleasure-houses  for  the  purpose 
of  recreation,  both  within  the  city  and  without,  and  in 
no  instance  was  his  request  denied.  He  often  made  an 
excursion,  attended  by  five  or  six  Spaniards,  one  or  two 
leagues  out  of  the  city,  and  always  returned  in  fine 
spirits  to  his  quarters  where  I  had  placed  him  ;  and 
whenever  he  went  out,  he  made  many  presents  of  jew- 
els and  cotton  cloth,  both  to  the  Spaniards  by  whom  he 
was  accompanied,  and  to  his  own  people,  who  followed 
him  in  such  numbers  that  there  were  never  less  than 
three  thousand  men  in  his  retinue,  most  of  whom  were 
nobles  and  persons  of  distinction  ;  and  he  always  gave 
many  banquets  and  entertainments  to  those  who  ac- 
companied him,  which  they  considered  worth  relating. 

When  I  discovered  that  Muteczuma  was  fully  devo- 
ted to  the  service  of  your  Highness,  I  requested  him 
that,  in  order  to  enable  me  to  render  a  complete  account 
to  your  Majesty  of  the  productions  of  the  country,  he 
would  point  out  to  me  the  mines  from  which  gold  was 
obtained  ;  to  which  he  consented  with  the  greatest  rea^ 
diness,  saying  that  it  would  give  him  pleasure  to  do  so. 
He  immediately  sent  for  several  of  his  public  servants, 
and  assigned  them  to  four  provinces,  two  to  each  province, 
in  which  he  said  the  gold  was  obtained  j  and  he  asked 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  97 

me  to  allow  some  of  the  Spaniards  to  go  with  them,  that 
they  might  observe  the  manner  in  which  gold  was  pro- 
cured ;  and  I  accordingly  deputed  two  Spaniards  for 
the  same  number  of  his  own  men.  One  party  of  them 
went  to  a  province  called  Cuzula,  eighty  leagues  from 
the  great  city  of  Temixtitan,  whose  inhabitants  are  vas- 
sals of  Muteczuma,  where  they  were  shown  three  rivers, 
from  all  of  which  they  brought  me  specimens  of  gold,  of 
a  good  quality,  although  procured  with  little  trouble,  and 
without  any  other  instruments  than  those  used  by  the 
Indians.  On  their  route  they  passed  through  three  pro- 
vinces, that,  according  to  the  report  of  the  Spaniards, 
contained  very  fine  land,  many  villages  and  cities,  with 
much  scattered  population,  and  buildings  equal  to  any  in 
Spain.  They  mentioned  particularly  a  house  and  castle, 
the  latter  larger,  of  greater  strength,  and  better  built 
than  the  castle  of  Burgos  ;  and  the  people  of  one  of  these 
provinces,  called  Tamazulapa,*  were  better  clothed 
than  those  of  any  other  we  had  seen,  as  it  justly  appear- 
ed to  them.  Another  party  of  our  envoys  went  to  a 
province  called  Malinaltebeque,  [in  Oaxaca,]  which  is 
also  seventy  leagues  from  the  great  city,  but  more  to- 
wards the  seacoast.  They  brought  me  specimens  of 
gold  from  a  great  river  that  passes  through  it.  The 
other  party  visited  a  region  beyond  this  river,  inhabited 
by  a  people  speaking  a  different  language  from  those  of 
Culua,  and  called  Tenis ;  whose  chief  ruler  is  named 
Coatelicamar.f  His  territory  is  situated  on  a  lofty  and 
rough  mountainous  range,  with  a  population  inured  to 
war,  who  fight  with  spears  of  twenty-five  to  thirty 
palms  length ;  he  is  independent  of  Muteczuma.     The 

*  In  Oaxaca. 

t  This  was  the  Lord  of  Tenich,  which  is  the  river  above  Maninaltepec. — L. 


98  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

messengers  with  the  Spaniards  did  not  dare  enter  this 
province,  as  it  was  not  subject  to  Muteczuma,  without 
first  notifying  the  governor,  and  asking  his  permission, 
announcing  that  they  had  come  with  certain  Spaniards 
to  see  the  gold  mines  that  were  in  his  country,  for  whom 
they  requested  a  favorable  reception  in  my  name  and 
that  of  Muteczuma,  their  lord.  Coatelicamar  answered, 
that  he  was  very  willing  the  Spaniards  should  enter  his 
province  and  see  the  mines,  with  any  thing  else  they 
pleased  ;  but  that  the  Culuans,  who  were  subjects  of 
Muteczuma,  must  not  do  so,  as  they  were  his  enemies. 
The  Spaniards  were  somewhat  at  a  loss  whether  to  go 
alone  or  not ;  their  companions  advised  them  not  to  go, 
as  they  would  be  put  to  death,  alleging  that  it  was  for 
the  purpose  of  being  able  to  destroy  them,  that  he  would 
not  consent  to  the  Culuans  accompanying  them.  At 
length,  however,  they  resolved  to  go  alone,  and  were 
well  received  by  the  governor  and  his  people,  who 
showed  them  seven  or  eight  mines  from  which  they  said 
gold  was  procured ;  and  in  their  presence  some  of  the 
Indians  got  out  a  quantity  of  the  precious  metal,  of  which 
specimens  wrere  brought  to  me.  Coatelicamar  sent  by 
these  Spaniards  several  messengers,  offering  himself  and 
his  land  to  the  service  of  your  Majesty,  and  accompany- 
ing his  professions  with  presents  of  gold  and  cotton  cloth. 
The  other  party  of  envoys  visited  a  province  called  Tu- 
chitebeque,  on  the  same  route,  towards  the  sea,  twelve 
leagues  from  the  province  of  Malinaltebeque,  where  I 
have  already  said  gold  was  found,  and  there  they  were 
shown  two  other  streams,  from  which  also  they  obtained 
specimens  of  gold. 

The  Spaniards  who  went  to  the  Province  of  Malinal- 
tebeque, informed  me  that  it  contained  every  convenience 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXJCO.  99 

for  establishing  farming  stations,  and  procuring  gold  ;  on 
this  account  I  requested  Muteczuma  to  establish  a  plan- 
tation there  for  your  Majesty.  He  accordingly  set  to  work 
for  this  purpose  with  so  much  diligence,  that  within  two 
months  from  the  time  I  spoke  to  him  on  the  subject,  six- 
ty fanegas  of  maize,  and  ten  of  beans  were  planted,  to- 
gether with  two  thousand  cacoa  trees,*  which  bear  a 
fruit  resembling  the  almond,  that  is  sold  after  being 
ground,  and  is  held  in  such  estimation,  that  it  is  used  as 
money  throughout  all  the  country,  and  employed  in  pur- 
chases in  the  markets  and  every  where  else.f  He  had 
also  erected  four  very  good  houses,  in  one  of  which  be- 
side the  apartments  there  was  a  pool  of  water,  in  which 
they  placed  five  hundred  geese,  there  held  in  high  esti- 
mation, as  they  make  a  profitable  use  of  their  feathers, 
which  they  strip  off  every  year  and  weave  into  thin 
cloth.  They  also  placed  there  fifteen  hundred  domestic 
fowls  ;  and  altogether  the  improvements  were  valued  by 
Spaniards  who  saw  them  at  different  times,  exclusively 
of  the  soil,  at  20,000  pesos  of  gold.  I  likewise  inquired 
of  Muteczuma  if  there  were  on  the  coast  of  the  sea  any 
river  or  bay  into  which  ships  could  enter,  and  lie  with 
safety.  He  answered  that  he  did  not  know,  but  that  he 
would  cause  a  chart  of  the  coast  to  be  painted,  showing 
the  rivers  and  bays,  and  that  I  might  send  Spaniards  to 
examine  them,  for  which  purpose  he  would  despatch 
suitable  persons  with  them  as  guides  ;  and  he  did  so. 
The  next  day  they  brought  me  a  chart  of  the  whole 
coast,  painted  on  cloth  ;  on  which  appeared  a  river  that 

*  This  is  the  Cacao,  of  which  chocolate  is  made. — L. 

t  Even  at  the  present  day  it  is  common  in  shops  to  give  cacoa  seeds  in  place 
of  copper  money,  when  the  amount  is  less  than  a  silver  coin  of  the  value  of  half 
a  real,  or  six  cents. — L. 


100  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

discharged  into  the  sea,  with  a  wider  mouth,  according 
to  the  chart,  than  any  others  ;  this  seemed  to  be  between 
the  mountains  called  Sanmyn,  which  extend  to  a  bay  un- 
til then  believed  by  the  pilots  to  separate  the  land  at  a 
province  called  Mazamalco.*  Muteczuma  told  me  that 
I  might  select  whom  I  would  wish  to  send,  and  that  he 
would  provide  the  means  for  their  examining  and  ascer- 
taining every  thing  ;  I  immediately  designated  ten  men, 
and  among  them  several  pilots  and  persons  acquainted 
with  the  sea.  Being  furnished  with  the  provision  he 
made  for  them,  they  departed,  and  proceeded  along  the 
coast  from  the  port  of  Chalchilmeca,  called  San  Juan, 
where  I  first  landed, t  for  sixty  leagues  and  upwards, 
without  finding  any  river  or  bay  where  ships  could  en- 
ter ;  although  there  were  many  large  ones  on  the  coast, 
which  they  sounded  in  canoes  ;  and  in  this  manner  they 
arrived  at  the  province  of  Quacalco  abovementioned, 
[Mazamalco,]  where  was  the  river  represented  on  the 
chart.  The  governor  of  this  province,  named  Tuchin- 
tecla,  received  them  well,  and  furnished  them  with  ca- 
noes to  explore  the  river.  They  found  two  fathoms  and 
a  half  of  water  at  its  entrance,  in  the  shallowest  part, 
and  ascending  twelve  leagues,  the  least  depth  they  found 
was  five  or  six  fathoms  ;  judging  from  their  observations, 
it  was  thought  that  the  river  continued  for  thirty  leagues 
of  the  same  depth.  There  were  numerous  and  large 
towns  on  its  banks,  and  the  whole  province  was  level, 
and  well  fortified,  rich  in  all  the  productions  of  the  earth, 
and  containing  a  numerous  population,  who  are  not  vas- 
sals or  subjects  of  Muteczuma,  but  rather  his  enemies. 

*  Now  written  Guazacualco,  or  Huasasalco,  south  of  Vera  Cruz.    This  passage 
is  quoted  by  Humbolt,  Nouv.  Esp.  1.  v.,  c.  xii. 
t  The  present  Vera  Cruz. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  101 

The  governor  of  the  country,  when  the  Spaniards  arri- 
ved there,  ordered  that  the  Mexicans  should  not  enter  his 
territory,  because  they  were  his  enemies  ;  and  when  our 
people  returned  to  me  with  this  account,  he  sent  several 
persons  in  their  company,  by  whom  he  transmitted  to 
me  jewels  of  gold,  skins  of  tigers,  feathers,  precious 
stones,  and  cotton  cloth ;  and  they  informed  me  from 
him,  that  Tuchintela,  their  sovereign,  had  heard  of  me 
a  long  time  ago,  for  the  people  of  Putunchan,  or  the  river 
of  Grijalva,*  who  were  his  friends,  had  told  him  of  my 
passing  through  their  country,  and  making  war  upon  them, 
because  they  opposed  my  entrance  into  their  town ;  and 
how  afterwards  we  left  them  as  friends  and  vassals  of 
your  Majesty.  He  also  offered  himself  and  his  whole 
province  to  the  service  of  your  Majesty,  and  begged  me 
to  receive  him  as  a  friend,  on  condition  that  the  Mexicans 
should  not  enter  his  country,  giving  me  liberty  to  exam= 
ine  all  it  contained,  and  of  choosing  whatever  I  pleased 
for  your  Majesty's  use,  of  which  he  would  yield  an  an- 
nual tribute. 

When  I  was  informed  by  the  Spaniards  that  the  pro- 
vince they  had  visited,  was  in  a  situation  to  be  colonized, 
and  that  they  had  discovered  a  harbor  in  it,  I  was  much 
gratified ;  since  from  the  time  that  I  had  first  set  foot  in  this 
country,  I  had  constantly  sought  to  find  some  harbor 
upon  its  coast,  where  I  might  found  a  settlement,  but  I 
had  not  been  able  to  discover  one,  nor  is  there  any  on 
all  the  coast,  from  the  river  San  Antonio,  which  is  next 
the  Grijalva,  to  that  of  Panuco,  which  is  down  the  coast, 
where  certain  Spaniards  under  Francisco  de  Garay, 
went  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  colony,  as  I  shall 

*  This  river  still  preserves  its  name,  but  takes   that  of  Tobasco  at  its 
mouth. — L. 

14 


102  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

hereafter  relate  to  your  Majesty.*  In  order  to  satisfy 
myself  in  relation  to  the  province,  the  harbor,  and  the 
good  will  of  the  natives,  I  resolved  to  send  thither  certain 
of  my  company,  who  would  be  able  to  judge  of  the 
country  from  their  observation  and  experience.  They 
went  in  company  with  the  messengers  that  the  Lord  Tu- 
chintecla  had  sent  to  me,  carrying  several  things  that  I 
sent  to  him  as  presents.  Having  arrived  there,  they 
were  well  received  by  him,  and  applied  themselves  to 
survey  and  sound  the  port  and  river,  and  to  examine  the 
sites  the  place  afforded  for  a  town.  They  afterwards 
brought  me  a  full  and  correct  report  of  their  observa- 
tions, and  declared  that  every  thing  requisite  for  a  set- 
tlement was  to  be  found  there.  The  governor  himself 
was  gratified,  and  expressed  a  great  desire  to  become  a 
vassal  of  your  Majesty.  As  soon  as  they  had  returned, 
I  despatched  a  captain  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 
for  the  purpose  of  tracing,  planning  and  settling  the  town, 
and  erecting  a  fortress,  as  the  governor  had  consented 
to  it,  and  offered  whatever  was  necessary,  or  they  might 
require  for  the  purpose  ;  and  he  even  built  six  houses  on 
the  spot  selected  for  the  town,  and  said  that  he  was  very 
well  pleased  that  we  should  go  there  to  found  a  colony, 
and  dwell  upon  his  land. 

I  have,  in  the  preceding  pages,  most  powerful  Sire, 
stated  that  at  the  time  I  entered  the  great  city  of  Temix- 
titan,  a  great  lord  had  met  me  on  my  route  who  came  on 
behalf  of  Muteczuma;  and  according  to  what  I  after- 
wards learned,  he  was  a  near  relative  of  that  monarch, 
possessing  a  province  next  to  that  of  Muteczuma,  and 


*  The  commercial  town  of  Tampico  is  now  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Panuco. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  103 

called  Haculuacan.*  The  capital  of  it  was  a  very  large 
city,  adjacent  to  the  salt  lake ;  it  is  six  leagues  distant  from 
the  city  of  Temixtitan,  as  the  canoes  go  by  the  lake,  and 
ten  leagues  by  land.  The  name  of  the  city  was  Tezcu- 
co,  and  it  contained  about  thirty  thousand  families. 
There  are  in  it,  Sire,  splendid  houses,  mosques,  or  tem- 
ples, and  oratories  of  great  magnitude,  and  well  fin- 
ished. The  markets  are  also  very  extensive  ;  and  be- 
sides this  city,  there  are  two  others,  one  three  leagues 
from  Tezcuco,  called  Acuruman,f  and  the  other  six 
leagues,  called  Otumpa.  Each  of  these  contains  three  or 
four  thousand  families.  This  province  and  seignory  of 
Haculuacan  has  numerous  other  villages  and  hamlets, 
and  excellent  lands,  well  cultivated.  It  borders  on  one 
side  upon  that  of  Tascaltecal,  of  which  I  have  already 
spoken  to  your  Majesty.  The  governor,  who  is  named 
Cacamazin,  after  the  imprisonment  of  Muteczuma,  re- 
belled, both  against  your  Majesty,  to  whom  he  professed 
allegiance,  and  against  Muteczuma.  Although  he  was 
several  times  summoned  to  come  and  render  obedience 
to  your  Majesty's  commands,  he  never  would.  Beside 
the  requisitions  I  made  of  him,  Muteczuma  also  sent  his 
commands  to  him,  to  which  he  answered,  that  if  they 
wanted  any  thing  of  him  they  should  go  to  his  country, 
where  they  should  see  what  he  was,  and  what  service  he 
was  obliged  to  perform.  I  was  told  that  he  had  a  large 
force  of  armed  men  in  readiness  at  a  moment's  warning. 
As  neither  by  demonstrations  nor  requisitions  was  I  able 
to  induce  him  to  yield,  I  spoke  to  Muteczuma,  and  asked 
his  advice  what  it  was  best  for  us  to  do,  in  order  that  we 
might  not  leave  his  rebellion  unpunished.     He  answered, 

*  The  province  of  Culhuacan.  t  Now  Oculina. 


104  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

that  should  we  resolve  on  war,  it  would  be  attended  with 
much  danger,  as  he  was  a  great  lord,  and  possessed 
much  strength  and  many  people  ;  and  he  could  not  be 
attacked  without  the  risk  of  great  destruction  of  life. 
But  that  there  were  several  of  the  principal  persons  of 
Cacamazin  who  resided  in  Mexico  at  his  charge,  and 
that  he  would  speak  to  them  on  the  subject,  in  order  to 
induce  some  of  Cacamazin's  followers  to  come  to  Mexi- 
co, and  thus  being  secured,  they  might  favor  our  attempt, 
and  their  master  be  taken  without  risk.  And  so  it  turn- 
ed out ;  Muteczuma  laid  his  plans  in  such  a  manner, 
that  a  number  of  his  leading  men  persuaded  Cacamazin 
to  meet  them  in  the  city  of  Tezcuco,  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  measures  in  relation  to  the  affairs  of  the  state,  (in 
which  their  station  entitled  them  to  a  voice,)  and  who 
were  grieved  by  the  course  he  was  pursuing,  which  would 
involve  the  ruin  of  the  country.  Accordingly  they  as- 
sembled in  a  splendid  palace  of  Cacamazin,  situated 
near  the  shore  of  the  lake,  which  was  built  in  such  a 
manner  that  canoes  could  pass  under  it,  and  from  thence 
issue  forth  upon  the  lake.  At  that  place  a  number  of 
boats  were  stationed,  properly  manned  and  equipped,  in 
case  Cacamazin  should  offer  any  resistance  when  taken. 
While  he  was  consulting  with  his  chiefs,  they  seized 
him,  and  before  it  was  discovered  by  his  attendants,  they 
secured  him  in  a  boat,  and  launched  out  upon  the  lake, 
directing  their  course  to  the  great  city,  which,  as  I  have 
already  stated,  was  six  leagues  distant.  Having  arrived 
there,  they  placed  him  on  a  litter,  as  his  condition  re- 
quired, and  they  had  been  accustomed  to  do,  and  brought 
him  to  me ;  I  immediately  caused  him  to  be  put  in  irons, 
and  to  be  carefully  guarded.  Having  advised  with  Mu- 
teczuma, I  conferred  the  government  of  the  province  on 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  105 

his  son,  called  Cucuzcasin,  in  the  name  of  your  Majesty ; 
and  I  directed  all  the  communities  and  lords  of  the  pro- 
vince to  obey  him  as  their  ruler,  until  your  Majesty 
should  order  otherwise.  Accordingly,  from  that  time  he 
was  recognized  and  obeyed  as  their  sovereign,  in  the 
same  manner  as  Cacamazin  had  been  ;  and  he  also 
obeyed  all  the  commands  that  I  imposed  on  him  in  your 
Majesty's  name. 

A  few  days  after  the  imprisonment  of  Cacamazin, 
Muteczuma  called  together  all  the  governors  of  the 
neighboring  cities  and  states,  and  when  they  were  as- 
sembled, he  sent  an  invitation  to  me  to  join  them ;  on 
my  arrival,  he  addressed  them  as  follows  ;  "  My  bre- 
thren and  friends,  you  know  that  for  a  long  period  you, 
your  fathers,  and  ancestors  have  been  the  subjects  and 
vassals  of  my  predecessors  and  myself,  and  that  both 
by  them  and  me  you  have  been  always  well  treated  and 
honored.  You  have  also  done  all  that  is  due  from  good 
and  loyal  vassals  to  their  liege  lords  ;  and  I  also  believe 
that  you  have  heard  from  your  ancestors,  that  they  were 
not  natives  of  this  land,  but  that  they  came  to  it  from  a 
great  distance,  under  the  conduct  of  a  sovereign  whose 
subjects  they  all  were  ;  he  left  them  here,  but  after  a 
considerable  time  he  returned,  and  found  that  our  an- 
cestors had  become  numerous  and  well  established  in 
this  country,  having  intermarried  with  the  women  of  the 
land,  by  whom  they  had  many  children.  On  this  ac- 
count they  were  unwilling  to  go  back  with  him,  or  to 
acknowledge  him  as  their  sovereign  ;  whereupon  he 
went  away,  saying  that  he  would  return,  or  send  so 
great  a  force  as  would  compel  them  to  submit  to  him. 
You  knew  well  that  we  have  always  looked  for  him  ; 
and  according  to  what  this  captain  has  told  us  of  the 


106  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

king  and  lord,  who  has  sent  him  here,  and  also  consi- 
dering the  quarter  from  which  he  says  he  has  come,  I 
hold  it  certain,  and  you  must  be  of  the  same  opinion, 
that  this  is  the  sovereign  that  we  have  expected  ;  espe- 
cially as  he  informs  us,  that  he  had  some  knowledge  of 
us  there.  And  since  our  predecessors  did  not  render 
their  just  service  to  their  sovereign  lord,  let  us  perform 
our  duty ;  and  let  us  render  thanks  to  our  gods,  that  he, 
who  was  so  long  expected  by  them,  has  come  in  our 
day.  I  must,  therefore,  entreat,  since  all  this  is  well 
known  to  you,  that  hereafter,  instead  of  regarding  me  as 
your  sovereign,  you  will  recognise  and  obey  that  great 
king,  as  he  is  our  natural  ruler,  and  receive  this  his 
captain  in  place  of  him  ;  and  all  the  tributes  and  ser- 
vices which  till  now  you  have  rendered  to  me,  you  will 
hereafter  render  and  yield  to  him,  as  I  likewise  contri- 
bute and  yield  all  that  he  requires  of  me  ;  and  thus  be- 
sides performing  your  duty,  you  will  gratify  and  oblige 
me." 

All  this  he  said  weeping,  with  more  tears  and  sighs 
than  becomes  a  man  to  exhibit ;  and  likewise  all  the 
princes  who  were  present  wept  so  much,  that  for  a  long 
time  they  were  unable  to  answer.  And  I  assure  your 
sacred  Majesty  that  there  was  not  a  Spaniard  who  heard 
the  discourse,  that  did  not  feel  great  compassion.  After 
their  grief  had  abated,  they  answered,  that  they  re- 
cognized him  as  their  sovereign,  and  had  engaged  to  do 
whatever  he  might  command  ;  and  that  on  this  account, 
as  well  as  for  the  reasons  he  had  assigned,  they  were 
willing  to  act  as  he  required  ;  and  that,  from  henceforth 
forever,  they  declared  themselves  the  vassals  of  your 
Majesty,  and  all,  and  each  for  himself,  would  there  pro- 
mise, and  did  promise,  to  do  and  fulfil  all  that  was  com- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  107 

manded  in  the  name  of  your  Majesty  as  became  good 
and  loyal  vassals  ;  and  to  aid  with  tribute  and  services 
as  they  had  heretofore  done  for  Muteczuma,  and  as  was 
their  duty,  together  with  whatever  else  might  be  re- 
'quired  of  them  in  the  name  of  your  Majesty.  All  this 
passed  in  the  presence  of  a  public  notary,  and  was  con- 
firmed by  a  formal  act ;  as  well  as  by  the  testimony  of 
many  of  our  countrymen  whom  I  had  requested  to  be 
present. 

After  this  solemn  act  and  acknowledgment  on  the 
part  of  these  lords  towards  your  Majesty,  I  one  day 
spoke  to  Muteczuma  and  said  that  your  Highness  need- 
ed gold  for  certain  works  that  he  had  ordered  to  be 
completed,  and  I  wished  him  to  send  some  of  his  peo- 
ple, and  I  would  send  some  of  mine,  to  the  lands  and 
abodes  of  those  lords  who  had  submitted  themselves  on 
that  occasion,  to  ask  them  to  supply  your  Majesty  with 
some  part  of  what  they  possessed ;  since  besides  the 
necessity  your  Majesty  had  for  the  gold,  it  would  serve 
as  a  beginning  of  their  fealty,  and  your  Highness  would 
form  a  better  opinion  of  their  disposition  to  render  him 
service  by  such  a  demonstration ;  and  I  also  requested 
that  he  himself  would  give  me  what  gold  he  had,  as 
well  as  other  things,  in  order  that  I  might  transmit  them 
to  your  Majesty.  He  immediately  requested  that  I 
would  designate  the  Spaniards  whom  I  wished  to  send 
on  this  business,  and  he  distributed  them  two  by  two, 
and  five  by  five,  among  many  provinces  and  cities,  the 
names  of  which  I  do  not  recollect,  the  records  having 
perished,  as  they  were  numerous  and  different,  some 
eighty,  some  one  hundred  leagues  from  the  great  city  of 
Temixtitan  ;  and  with  them  he  sent  some  of  his  own 
people,  and  directed  them  to  go  to  the  governors  of  pro- 


108  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

vinces  and  cities,  and  say  that  I  commanded  each  one 
of  them  to  give  a  certain  proportion  of  gold,  which  he 
prescribed.  Accordingly,  all  those  caciques  to  whom  he 
sent  contributed  freely  what  he  demanded  of  them,  as 
well  jewels  as  plates  and  leaves  of  gold  and  silver,  and" 
whatever  else  they  possessed  ;  and  melting  down  all 
that  admitted  it,  we  found  that  the  fifth  part  belonging  to 
your  Majesty  amounted  to  32,400  pesos  of  gold  and  up- 
wards, without  reckoning  the  jewels  of  gold  and  silver, 
the  feather-work,  and  precious  stones,  together  with 
many  other  valuable  articles  that  I  set  apart  for  your 
sacred  Majesty,  worth  more  than  100,000  ducats.  These 
besides  their  monied  value,  were  of  so  costly  and  curious 
workmanship,  that  considering  their  novelty  and  won- 
derful beauty,  no  price  could  be  set  on  them ;  nor  is  it 
probable  that  any  one  of  all  the  princes  of  the  world  to 
whose  knowledge  they  might  come,  could  produce  any 
articles  of  equal  splendor.  It  may  seem  to  your  Majes- 
ty like  a  fabulous  story,  but  it  is  true,  that  all  the  natu- 
ral objects,  both  on  sea  and  land,  of  which  Muteczuma 
has  any  knowledge,  are  imitated  in  gold  and  silver,  as 
well  as  in  precious  stones  and  feathers,  in  such  perfec- 
tion that  they  appear  almost  the  same.  He  gave  me 
numerous  specimens  of  many  of  these  for  your  Highness, 
besides  other  things  of  which  I  had  given  him  drawings, 
which  he  caused  to  be  wrought  in  gold,  such  as  images, 
crucifixes,  medals,  jewels,  and  necklaces,  together  with 
many  other  articles,  of  which  he  had  imitations  made. 
They  assigned  to  your  Majesty  a  fifth  part  of  the  silver, 
amounting  to  one  hundred  marks  and  upwards,  which  at 
my  request  the  natives  worked  up  into  large  and  small 
dishes,  porringers,  cups,  and  spoons ;  and  they  made 
them  as  perfectly  as  they  could  understand  their  form 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  109 

from  our  description.  Beside  these,  Muteczuma  gave 
me  a  large  quantity  of  his  cotton  stuff,  which,  consider- 
ing it  was  cotton  without  silk,  could  not  be  equalled  in 
the  whole  world,  either  in  texture,  or  in  the  variety  and 
beauty  of  the  colors,  or  in  the  workmanship.  It  com- 
prised male  and  female  apparel  of  remarkable  elegance ; 
ornamental  hangings  for  bed-chambers,  superior  beyond 
comparison  to  those  made  of  silk ;  together  with  other 
fabrics  of  cotton,  as  tapestries,  designed  for  halls  and 
temples  ;  counterpanes,  composed  of  feathers  interwoven 
with  cotton,  and  extremely  beautiful ;  and  many  other 
articles,  so  numerous  and  ingenious,  that  I  am  unable  to 
describe  them  to  your  Majesty.  He  also  presented  me 
with  a  dozen  serbatans,  used  by  himself  for  shooting, 
made  with  such  admirable  skill  that  they  also  exceed 
my  power  of  description.*  There  were  depicted  on  them 
a  great  variety  of  birds,  animals,  trees,  flowers,  and  va- 
rious other  objects ;  the  rims  and  extremities,  of  the 
width  of  a  span,  as  well  as  the  centre,  were  inlaid  with 
gold,  and  curiously  carved.  To  these  he  added  a  pouch 
of  gold  net-work,  intended  to  contain  the  pellets  or  little 
balls,  usually  formed  of  clay,  but  which  he  said  he  would 
give  me  of  gold  ;  and  also  moulds  of  the  same  precious 
metal,  for  making  the  pellets  ;  together  with  an  infinite 
variety  of  other  things. 

*  Serbatans,  or  cerbottanes,  according  to  Clavigero,  are  long  tubes  or  pipes, 
through  which  they  shoot  little  balls  at  birds,  &c,  by  blowing  with  the  mouth* 


15 


110  LETTERS    OF    CORTES, 


t  CHAPTER  V. 

In  order,  most  potent  Sire,  to  convey  to  your  Majesty  a 
just  conception  of  the  great  extent  of  this  noble  city  of 
Temixtitan,  and  of  the  many  rare  and  wonderful  objects 
it  contains  ;  of  the  government  and  dominions  of  Mutec- 
zumar  the  sovereign  ;.  of  the  religious  rites  and  customs 
that  prevail,  and  the  order  that  exists  in  this  as  well  as 
other  cities  appertaining  to  his  realm :  it  would  re- 
quire the  labor  of  many  accomplished  writers,  and  much 
time  for  the  completion  of  the  task.  I  shall  not  be  able 
to  relate  an  hundredth  part  of  what  could  be  told  re- 
specting these  matters  ;  but  I  will  endeavor  to  describe, 
in  the  best  manner  in  my  power,  what  I  have  myself 
seen  ;  and  imperfectly  as  I  may  succeed  in  the  attempt, 
I  am  fully  aware  that  the  account  will  appear  so  won- 
derful as  to  be  deemed  scarcely  worthy  of  credit ;  since 
even  we  who  have  seen  these  things  with  our  own  eyes, 
are  yet  so  amazed  as  to  be  unable  to  comprehend  their 
reality.  But  your  Majesty  may  be  assured  that  if  there 
is  any  fault  in  my  relation,  either  in  regard  to  the  present 
subject,  or  to  any  other  matters  of  which  I  shall  give  your 
Majesty  an  account,  it  will  arise  from  too  great  brevity 
rather  than  extravagance  or  prolixity  in  the  details  ;  and 
it  seems  to  me  but  just  to  my  Prince  and  Sovereign  to 
declare  the  truth  in  the  clearest  manner,  without  saying 
any  thing  that  would  detract  from  it,  or  add  to  it. 

Before  I  begin  to  describe  this  great  city  and  the  others 
already  mentioned,  it  may  be  well  for  the  better  under- 
standing of  the  subject  to  say  something  of  the  configu- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  Ill 

ration  of  Mexico,*  in  which  they  are  situated,  it  being 
the  principal  seat  of  Muteczuma's  power.  This  Pro- 
vince is  in  the  form  of  a  circle,  surrounded  on  all  sides 
by  lofty  and  rugged  mountains  ;  its  level  surface  com- 
prises an  area  of  about  seventy  leagues  in  circumference, 
including  two  lakes,  that  overspread  nearly  the  whole 
valley,  being  navigated  by  boats  more  than  fifty  leagues 
round.  One  of  these  lakes  contains  fresh,  and  the  other, 
which  is  the  larger  of  the  two,  salt  water.  On  one  side 
of  the  lakes,  in  the  middle  of  the  valley,  a  range  of  high- 
lands divides  them  from  one  another,  with  the  exception 
of  a  narrow  strait  which  lies  between  the  highlands  and 
the  lofty  sierras.  This  strait  is  a  bow-shot  wide,  and 
connects  the  two  lakes  ;  and  by  this  means  a  trade  is 
carried  on  between  the  cities  and  other  settlements  on 
the  lakes  in  canoes  without  the  necessity  of  travelling 
by  land.  As  the  salt  lake  rises  and  falls  with  its  tides 
like  the  sea,  during  the  time  of  high  water  it  pours  into 
the  other  lake  with  the  rapidity  of  a  powerful  stream  ; 
and  on  the  other  hand,  when  the  tide  has  ebbed,  the 
water  runs  from  the  fresh  into  the  salt  lake. 

This  great  city  of  Temixtitan  [Mexico]  is  situated  in 
this  salt  lake,  and  from  the  main  land  to  the  denser  parts 
of  it,  by  whichever  route  one  chooses  to  enter,  the  dis- 
tance is  two  leagues.  There  are  four  avenues  or  en- 
trances to  the  city,  all  of  which  are  formed  by  artificial 
causeways,  two  spears'  length  in  width.  The  city  is  as 
large  as  Seville  or  Cordova ;  its  streets,  I  speak  of  the 
principal  ones,  are  very  wide  and  straight;  some  of  these, 
and  all  the  inferior  ones,  are  half  land  and  half  water, 

*  Cortes  applies  this  name  to  the  Province  in  which  the  city,  called  by  him 
Temixtitan,  more  properly  Tenochtitlan,  but  now  Mexico,  was  situated.  See 
Humboldt,  Nouv.  Esp.  1.  i.  c.  i. 


112  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

and  are  navigated  by  canoes.  All  the  streets  at  inter- 
vals have  openings,  through  which  the  water  flows,  cross- 
ing from  one  street  to  another ;  and  at  these  openings, 
some  of  which  are  very  wide,  there  are  also  very  wide 
bridges,  composed  of  large  pieces  of  timber,  of  great 
strength  and  well  put  together  ;  on  many  of  these  bridges 
ten  horses  can  go  abreast.  Foreseeing  that  if  the  inha- 
bitants of  this  city  should  prove  treacherous,  they  would 
possess  great  advantages  from  the  manner  in  which  the 
city  is  constructed,  since  by  removing  the  bridges  at  the 
entrances,  and  abandoning  the  place,  they  could  leave 
us  to  perish  by  famine  without  our  being  able  to  reach 
the  main  landir=-as  soon  as  I  had  entered  it,  I  made  great 
haste  to  build  four  brigantines,  which  were  soon  finished, 
and  were  large  enough  to  take  ashore  three  hundred  men 
and  the  horses,  whenever  it  should  become  necessary. 

This  city  has  many  public  squares,  in  which  are  situ- 
ated the  markets  and  other  places  for  buying  and  selling. 
There  is  one  square  twice  as  large  as  that  of  the  city  of 
Salamanca,  surrounded  by  porticoes,  where  are  daily 
assembled  more  than  sixty  thousand  souls,  engaged  in 
buying  and  selling ;  and  where  are  found  all  kinds  of 
merchandise  that  the  world  affords,  embracing  the  ne- 
cessaries of  life,  as  for  instance  articles  of  food,  as  well 
as  jewels  of  gold  and  silver,  lead,  brass,  copper,  tin,  pre- 
cious stones,  bones,  shells,  snails,  and  feathers.  There 
are  also  exposed  for  sale  wrought  and  unwrought  stone, 
bricks  burnt  and  unburnt,  timber  hewn  and  unhewn,  of 
different  sorts.  There  is  a  street  for  game,  where  every 
variety  of  birds  found  in  the  country  are  sold,  as  fowls, 
partridges,  quails,  wild  ducks,  fly-catchers,  widgeons,  tur- 
tle-doves, pigeons,  reedbirds,  parrots,  sparrows,  eagles, 
hawks,  owls,  and  kestrels  ;  they  sell  likewise  the  skins 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  113 

of  some  birds  of  prey,  with  their  feathers,  head,  beak, 
and  claws.  There  are  also  sold  rabbits,  hares,  deer, 
and  little  dogs,  which  are  raised  for  eating  and  castrated. 
There  is  also  an  herb  street,  where  may  be  obtained  all 
sorts  of  roots  and  medicinal  herbs  that  the  country  af- 
fords. There  are  apothecaries'  shops,  where  prepared 
medicines,  liquids,  ointments,  and  plasters  are  sold ; 
barbers'  shops,  where  they  wash  and  shave  the  head  ; 
and  restaurateurs,  that  furnish  food  and  drink  at  a  cer- 
tain price.  There  is  also  a  class  of  men  like  those 
called  in  Castile  porters,  for  carrying  burthens.  Wood 
and  coals  are  seen  in  abundance,  and  brasiers  of  earthen- 
ware for  burning  coals  ;  mats  of  various  kinds  for  beds, 
others  of  a  lighter  sort  for  seats,  and  for  halls  and  bed- 
rooms. There  are  all  kinds  of  green  vegetables,  espe- 
cially onions,  leeks,  garlic,  watercresses,  nasturtium, 
borage,  sorel,  artichokes,  and  golden  thistle ;  fruits  also 
of  numerous  descriptions,  amongst  which  are  cherries 
and  plums,  similar  to  those  in  Spain ;  honey  and  wax 
from  bees,  and  from  the  stalks  of  maize,  which  are  as 
sweet  as  the  sugar-cane ;  honey  is  also  extracted  from 
the  plant  called  maguey,*  which  is  superior  to  sweet  or 
new  wine  ;  from  the  same  plant  they  extract  sugar  and 
wine,  which  they  also  sell.  Different  kinds  of  cotton 
thread  of  all  colors  in  skeins  are  exposed  for  sale  in  one 
quarter  of  the  market,  which  has  the  appearance  of  the 
silk-market  at  Granada,  although  the  former  is  supplied 
more  abundantly.  Painters'  colors,  as  numerous  as  can 
be  found  in  Spain,  and  as  fine  shades ;  deerskins  dressed 
and  undressed,  dyed  different  colors ;  earthenware  of  a 

*  This  is  the  plant  known  in  this  country  under  the  name  of  the  Century  Plant, 
which  is  still  much  cultivated  in  Mexico  for  the  purposes  mentioned  by  Cortes, 
It  usually  flowers  when  eight  or  ten  years  old. 


114  LETTERS    OP    CORTES. 

large  size  and  excellent  quality ;  large  and  small  jars, 
jugs,  pots,  bricks,  and  an  endless  variety  of  vessels,  all 
made  of  fine  clay,  and  all  or  most  of  them  glazed  and 
painted  ;  maize,  or  Indian  corn,  in  the  grain  and  in  the 
form  of  bread,  preferred  in  the  grain  for  its  flavor  to  that 
of  the  other  islands  and  terra-firma ;  pates  of  birds 
and  fish  ;  great  quantities  of  fish,  fresh,  salt,  cooked  and 
uncooked  ;  the  eggs  of  hens,  geese,  and  of  all  the  other 
birds  I  have  mentioned,  in  great  abundance,  and  cakes 
made  of  eggs ;  finally,  every  thing  that  can  be  found 
throughout  the  whole  country  is  sold  in  the  markets, 
comprising  articles  so  numerous  that  to  avoid  prolixity, 
and  because  their  names  are  not  retained  in  my  memory, 
or  are  unknown  to  me,  I  shall  not  attempt  to  enumerate 
them.  Every  kind  of  merchandise  is  sold  in  a  particular 
street  or  quarter  assigned  to  it  exclusively,  and  thus  the 
best  order  is  preserved.  They  sell  every  thing  by  num- 
ber or  measure ;  at  least  so  far  we  have  not  observed 
them  to  sell  any  thing  by  weight.  There  is  a  building 
in  the  great  square  that  is  used  as  an  audience  house, 
where  ten  or  twelve  persons,  who  are  magistrates,  sit 
and  decide  all  controversies  that  arise  in  the  market,  and 
order  delinquents  to  be  punished.  In  the  same  square 
there  are  other  persons  who  go  constantly  about  among 
the  people  observing  what  is  sold,  and  the  measures 
used  in  selling ;  and  they  have  been  seen  to  break  mea- 
sures that  were  not  true. 

This  great  city  contains  a  large  number  of  temples,* 
or  houses  for  their  idols,  very  handsome  edifices,  which 
are  situated  in  the  different  districts  and  the  suburbs  ; 

*  The  original  has  the  word  mezquitas,  mosques ;  but  as  that  term  is  applied 
in  English  exclusively  to  Mahometan  places  of  worship,  one  of  more  general 
application  is  used  in  the  translation. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  115 

in  the  principal  ones  religious  persons  of  each  particular 
sect  are  constantly  residing,  for  whose  use  beside  the 
houses  containing  the  idols  there  are  other  convenient 
habitations.     All  these  persons  dress  in  black,  and  never 
cut  or  comb  their  hair  from  the  time  they  enter  the 
priesthood  until  they  leave  it ;  and  all  the  sons  of  the 
principal  inhabitants,  both  nobles  and  respectable  citi- 
zens, are  placed  in  the  temples  and  wear  the  same  dress 
from  the  age  of  seven  or  eight  years  until  they  are  taken 
out  to  be  married ;  which  occurs  more  frequently  with 
the  first-born  who  inherit  estates  than  with  the  others. 
The  priests  are  debarred  from  female  society,  nor  is  any 
woman  permitted  to  enter  the  religious  houses.     They 
also  abstain  from  eating  certain  kinds  of  food,  more  at 
some  seasons  of  the  year  than  others.     Among  these 
temples  there  is  one  which  far  surpasses  all  the  rest, 
whose  grandeur  of  architectural  details  no  human  tongue 
is  able  to  describe  ;  for  within  its  precincts,  surrounded 
by  a  lofty  wall,  there  is  room  enough  for  a  town  of  five 
hundred  families.     Around  the  interior  of  this  enclosure 
there  are  handsome  edifices,  containing  large  halls  and 
corridors,  in  which  the  religious  persons  attached  to  the 
temple  reside.     There  are  full  forty  towers,  which  are 
lofty  and  well  built,  the  largest  of  which  has  fifty  steps 
leading  to  its  main  body,  and  is  higher  than  the  tower  of 
the  principal  church  at  Seville.     The  stone  and  wood  of 
which  they  are  constructed  are  so  well  wrought  in  every 
part,  that  nothing  could  be  better  done,  for  the  interior 
of  the  chapels  containing  the  idols  consists  of  curious 
imagery,  wrought  in  stone,  with  plaster  ceilings,  and 
wood-work  carved  in  relief,  and  painted  with  figures 
of  monsters  and  other  objects.     All  these  towers  are  the 
burial  places  of  the  nobles,  and  every  chapel  in  them  is 


116  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

dedicated  to  a  particular  idol,  to  which  they  pay  their 
devotions. 

There  are  three  halls  in  this  grand  temple,  which  con- 
tain the  principal  idols ;  these  are  of  wonderful  extent 
and  height,  and  admirable  workmanship,  adorned  with 
figures  sculptured  in  stone  and  wood  ;  leading  from  the 
halls  are  chapels  with  very  small  doors,  to  which  the 
light  is  not  admitted,  nor  are  any  persons  except  the 
priests,  and  not  all  of  them.  In  these  chapels  are  the 
images  or  idols,  although,  as  I  have  before  said,  many 
of  them  are  also  found  on  the  outside  ;  the  principal 
ones,  in  which  the  people  have  greatest  faith  and  confi- 
dence, I  precipitated  from  their  pedestals,  and  cast  them 
down  the  steps  of  the  temple,  purifying  the  chapels  in 
which  they  had  stood,  as  they  were  all  polluted  with 
human  blood,  shed  in  the  sacrifices.  In  the  place  of 
these  I  put  images  of  Our  Lady  and  the  Saints,  which 
excited  not  a  little  feeling  in  Muteczuma  and  the  in- 
habitants, who  at  first  remonstrated,  declaring  that  if  my 
proceedings  were  known  throughout  the  country,  the  peo- 
ple would  rise  against  me ;  for  they  believed  that  their 
idols  bestowed  on  them  all  temporal  good,  and  if  they 
permitted  them  to  be  ill-treated,  they  would  be  angry 
and  withhold  their  gifts,  and  by  this  means  the  people 
would  be  deprived  of  the  fruits  of  the  earth  and  perish 
with  famine.  I  answered,  through  the  interpreters,  that 
they  were  deceived  in  expecting  any  favors  from  idols, 
the  work  of  their  own  hands,  formed  of  unclean  things ; 
and  that  they  must  learn  there  was  but  one  God,  the 
universal  Lord  of  all,  who  had  created  the  heavens  and 
the  earth,  and  all  things  else,  and  had  made  them  and 
us  ;  that  he  was  without  beginning  and  immortal,  and 
they  were  bound  to  adore  and  believe  him,  and  no  other 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  117 

creature  or  thing.  I  said  every  thing  to  them  I  could  to 
divert  them  from  their  idolatries,  and  draw  them  to  a 
knowledge  of  God  our  Lord.  Muteczuma  replied,  the 
others  assenting  to  what  he  said,  "  That  they  had  al- 
ready informed  me  they  were  not  the  aborigines  of  the 
country,  but  that  their  ancestors  had  emigrated  to  it 
many  years  ago ;  and  they  fully  believed  that  after  so 
long  an  absence  from  their  native  land,  they  might  have 
fallen  into  some  errors  ;  that  I  having  more  recently  ar- 
rived must  know  better  than  themselves  what  they 
ought  to  believe  ;  and  that  if  I  would  instruct  them  in 
these  matters,  and  make  them  understand  the  true  faith, 
they  would  follow  my  directions,  as  being  for  the  best." 
Afterwards,  Muteczuma  and  many  of  the  principal  citi- 
zens remained  with  me  until  I  had  removed  the  idols, 
purified  the  chapels,  and  placed  the  images  in  them, 
manifesting  apparent  pleasure  ;  and  I  forbade  them  sa- 
crificing human  beings  to  their  idols,  as  they  had  been 
accustomed  to  do ;  because,  besides  being  abhorrent  in 
the  sight  of  God,  your  sacred  Majesty  had  prohibited  it 
by  law,  and  commanded  to  put  to  death  whoever  should 
take  the  life  of  another.  Thus,  from  that  time,  they  re- 
frained from  the  practice,  and  during  the  whole  period 
of  my  abode  in  that  city,  they  were  never  seen  to  kill  or 
sacrifice  a  human  being. 

The  figures  of  the  idols  in  which  these  people  believe 
surpass  in  stature  a  person  of  more  than  the  ordinary 
size  ;  some  of  them  are  composed  of  a  mass  of  seeds  and 
leguminous  plants,  such  as  are  used  for  food,  ground  and 
mixed  together,  and  kneaded  with  the  blood  of  human 
hearts  taken  from  the  breasts  of  living  persons,  from 
which  a  paste  is  formed  in  a  sufficient  quantity  to  form 
large  statues.     When  these  are  completed  they  make 

16 


118  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

them  offerings  of  the  hearts  of  other  victims,  which  they 
sacrifice  to  them,  and  besmear  their  faces  with  the  blood. 
For  every  thing  they  have  an  idol,  consecrated  by  the 
use  of  the  nations  that  in  ancient  times  honored  the  same 
gods.  Thus  they  have  an  idol  that  they  petition  for  vic- 
tory in  war  ;  another  for  success  in  their  labors  ;  and  so 
for  every  thing  in  which  they  seek  or  desire  prosperity, 
they  have  their  idols,  which  they  honor  and  serve. 

This  noble  city  contains  many  fine  and  magnificent 
houses  ;  which  may  be  accounted  for  from  the  fact,  that 
all  the  nobility  of  the  country,  who  are  the  vassals  of 
Muteczuma,  have  houses  in  the  city,  in  which  they  reside 
a  certain  part  of  the  year  ;  and  besides,  there  are  numer- 
ous wealthy  citizens  who  also  possess  fine  houses.  All 
these  persons,  in  addition  to  the  large  and  spacious  apart- 
ments for  ordinary  purposes,  have  others,  both  upper  and 
lower,  that  contain  conservatories  of  flowers.  Along 
one  of  the  causeways  that  lead  into  the  city  are  laid  two 
pipes,  constructed  of  masonry,  each  of  which  is  two 
paces  in  width,  and  about  five  feet  in  height.  An  abun- 
dant supply  of  excellent  water,  forming  a  volume  equal 
in  bulk  to  the  human  body,  is  conveyed  by  one  of  these 
pipes,  and  distributed  about  the  city,  where  it  is  used  by 
the  inhabitants  for  drinking  and  other  purposes.  The 
other  pipe,  in  the  mean  time,  is  kept  empty  until  the 
former  requires  to  be  cleansed,  when  the  water  is  let 
into  it  and  continues  to  be  used  till  the  cleansing  is 
finished.  As  the  water  is  necessarily  carried  over 
bridges  on  account  of  the  salt  water  crossing  its  route, 
reservoirs  resembling  canals  are  constructed  on  the 
bridges,  through  which  the  fresh  water  is  conveyed. 
These  reservoirs  are  of  the  breadth  of  the  body  of  an 
ox,  and  of  the  same  length  as  the  bridges.     The  whole 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  119 

city  is  thus  served  with  water,  which  they  carry  in  canoes 
through  all  the  streets  for  sale,  taking  it  from  the  aque- 
duct in  the  following  manner :  the  canoes  pass  under  the 
bridges  on  which  the  reservoirs  are  placed,  when  men 
stationed  above  fill  them  with  water,  for  which  service 
they  are  paid.  At  all  the  entrances  of  the  city,  and  in 
those  parts  where  the  canoes  are  discharged,  that  is, 
where  the  greatest  quantity  of  provisions  is  brought  in, 
huts  are  erected,  and  persons  stationed  as  guards,  who 
receive  a  certum  quid  of  every  thing  that  enters.  I  know 
not  whether  the  sovereign  receives  this  duty  or  the  city, 
as  I  have  not  yet  been  informed  ;  but  I  believe  that  it 
appertains  to  the  sovereign,  as  in  the  markets  of  other 
provinces  a  tax  is  collected  for  the  benefit  of  their  cacique. 
In  all  the  markets  and  public  places  of  this  city  are  seen 
daily  many  laborers  and  persons  of  various  employ- 
ments waiting  for  some  one  to  hire  them.  The  inhabit- 
ants of  this  city  pay  a  greater  regard  to  style  in  their 
mode  of  living,  and  are  more  attentive  to  elegance  of 
dress  and  politeness  of  manners,  than  those  of  the  other 
provinces  and  cities  ;  since,  as  the  Cacique*  Muteczuma 
has  his  residence  in  the  capital,  and  all  the  nobility,  his 
vassals,  are  in  the  constant  habit  of  meeting  there,  a 
general  courtesy  of  demeanor  necessarily  prevails.  But 
not  to  be  prolix  in  describing  what  relates  to  the  affairs 
of  this  great  city,  although  it  is  with  difficulty  I  refrain 
from  proceeding,  I  will  say  no  more  than  that  the  man- 

*  The  title  invariably  given  to  Muteczuma  (or  Montezuma)  in  these  Des- 
patches, is  simply  Senor,  in  its  sense  of  Lord,  or  (to  use  an  Indian  word)  Cacique ; 
which  is  also  given  to  the  chiefs  or  governors  of  districts  or  provinces, 
whether  independent  or  feudatories.  The  title  of  Emperador  (Emperor),  now 
generally  applied  to  the  Mexican  ruler,  is  never  conferred  on  him  by  Cortes,  nor 
any  other  implying  royalty,  although  in  the  beginning  of  this  Despatch  he  as- 
sures Charles  V.  that  the  country  is  extensive  enough  to  constitute  an  empire. 


120  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

ners  of  the  people,  as  shown  in  their  intercourse  with  one 
another,  are  marked  by  as  great  an  atttention  to  the  pro- 
prieties of  life  as  in  Spain,  and  good  order  is  equally  well 
observed ;  and  considering  that  they  are  a  barbarous 
people,  without  the  knowledge  of  God,  having  no  inter- 
course with  civilized  nations,  these  traits  of  character  are 
worthy  of  admiration. 

In  regard  to  the  domestic  appointments  of  Muteczu- 
ma,  and  the  wonderful  grandeur  and  state  that  he  main- 
tains, there  is  so  much  to  be  told,  that  I  assure  your 
Highness,  I  know  not  where  to  begin  my  relation,  so  as 
to  be  able  to  finish  any  part  of  it.  For,  as  I  have  already 
stated,  what  can  be  more  wonderful,  than  that  a  barba- 
rous monarch,  as  he  is,  should  have  every  object  found  in 
his  dominions  imitated  in  gold,  silver,  precious  stones, 
and  feathers ;  the  gold  and  silver  being  wrought  so 
naturally  as  not  to  be  surpassed  by  any  smith  in  the 
world ;  the  stone  work  executed  with  such  perfection 
that  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  what  instruments  could 
have  been  used ;  and  the  feather  work  superior  to  the 
finest  productions  in  wax  or  embroidery.  The  extent  of 
Muteczuma's  dominions  has  not  been  ascertained,  since 
to  whatever  point  he  despatched  his  messengers,  even 
two  hundred  leagues  from  his  capital,  his  commands 
were  obeyed,  although  some  of  his  provinces  were  in  the 
midst  of  countries  with  which  he  was  at  war.  But  as 
nearly  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn,  his  territories  are 
equal  in  extent  to  Spain  itself,  for  he  sent  messengers  to 
the  inhabitants  of  a  city  called  Cumatan,  (requiring  them 
to  become  subjects  of  your  Majesty,)  which  is  sixty 
leagues  beyond  that  part  of  Putunchan  watered  by  the 
river  Grijalva,  and  two  hundred  and  thirty  leagues  dis- 
tant from  the  great  city  ;  and  I  sent  some  of  our  people 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  121 

a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  leagues  in  the  same 
direction.  All  the  principal  chiefs  of  these  provinces,  espe- 
cially those  in  the  vicinity  of  the  capital,  reside,  as  I 
have  already  stated,  the  greater  part  of  the  year  in  that 
great  city,  and  all  or  most  of  them  have  their  oldest  sons 
in  the  service  of  Muteczuma.  There  are  fortified  places 
in  all  the  provinces,  garrisoned  with  his  own  men,  where 
are  also  stationed  his  governors  and  collectors  of  the 
rents  and  tribute,  rendered  him  by  every  province  ;  and 
an  account  is  kept  of  what  each  is  obliged  to  pay,  as 
they  have  characters  and  figures  made  on  paper  that 
are  used  for  this  purpose.  Each  province  renders  a 
tribute  of  its  own  peculiar  productions,  so  that  the  sove- 
reign receives  a  great  variety  of  articles  from  different 
quarters.  No  prince  was  ever  more  feared  by  his  sub- 
jects, both  in  his  presence  and  absence.  He  possessed 
out  of  the  city  as  well  as  within,  numerous  villas,  each  of 
which  had  its  peculiar  sources  of  amusement,  and  all  were 
constructed  in  the  best  possible  manner  for  the  use  of  a 
great  prince  and  lord.  Within  the  city  his  palaces  were 
so  wonderful  that  it  is  hardly  possible  to  describe  their 
beauty  and  extent ;  I  can  only  say  that  in  Spain  there 
is  nothing  equal  to  them. 

There  was  one  palace  somewhat  inferior  to  the  rest, 
attached  to  which  was  a  beautiful  garden  with  balconies 
extending  over  it,  supported  by  marble  columns,  and  hav- 
ing a  floor  formed  of  jasper  elegantly  inlaid.  There  were 
apartments  in  this  palace  sufficient  to  lodge  two  princes 
of  the  highest  rank  with  their  retinues.  There  were 
likewise  belonging  to  it  ten  pools  of  water,  in  which 
were  kept  the  different  species  of  water  birds  found  in 
this  country,  of  which  there  is  a  great  variety,  all  of 
which  are  domesticated  ;  for  the  sea  birds  there  were 


122  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

pools  of  salt  water,  and  for  the  river  birds,  of  fresh  wa- 
ter. The  water  is  let  off  at  certain  times  to  keep  it  pure, 
and  is  replenished  by  means  of  pipes.  Each  species  of 
bird  is  supplied  with  the  food  natural  to  it,  which  it  feeds 
upon  when  wild.  Thus  fish  is  given  to  birds  that  usu- 
ally eat  it ;  worms,  maize,  and  the  finer  seeds,  to  such 
as  prefer  them.  And  I  assure  your  Highness,  that  to 
the  birds  accustomed  to  eat  fish  there  is  given  the  enor- 
mous quantity  of  ten  arrobas*  every  day,  taken  in  the 
salt  lake.  The  emperor  has  three  hundred  men  whose 
sole  employment  is  to  take  care  of  these  birds ;  and  there 
are  others  whose  only  business  is  to  attend  to  the  birds 
that  are  in  bad  health. 

Over  the  pools  for  the  birds  there  are  corridors  and 
galleries,  to  which  Muteczuma  resorts,  and  from  which 
he  can  look  out  and  amuse  himself  with  the  sight  of 
them.  There  is  an  apartment  in  the  same  palace  in 
which  are  men,  women  and  children,  whose  faces,  bodies, 
hair,  eyebrows,  and  eyelashes  are  white  from  their  birth. 
The  emperor  has  another  very  beautiful  palace,  with  a 
large  court-yard,  paved  with  handsome  flags,  in  the 
style  of  a  chess-board.  There  were  also  cages,  about 
nine  feet  in  height  and  six  paces  square,  each  of  which 
was  half  covered  with  a  roof  of  tiles,  and  the  other  half 
had  over  it  a  wooden  grate,  skilfully  made.  Every  cage 
contained  a  bird  of  prey,  of  all  the  species  found  in 
Spain,  from  the  kestrel  to  the  eagle,  and  many  unknown 
there.  There  was  a  great  number  of  each  kind ;  and  in 
the  covered  part  of  the  cages  there  was  a  perch,  and  an- 
other on  the  outside  of  the  grating,  the  former  of  which 
the  birds  used  in  the  night  time,  and  when  it  rained ;  and 
the  other  enabled  them  to  enjoy  the  sun  and  air.     To  all 

*  Two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  weight. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  123 

these  birds  fowls  were  daily  given  for  food,  and  nothing 
else.  There  were  in  the  same  palace  several  large  halls 
on  the  ground  floor,  filled  with  immense  cages  built  of 
heavy  pieces  of  timber,  well  put  together,  in  all  or  most 
of  which  were  kept  lions,  tigers,  wolves,  foxes,  and  a 
variety  of  animals  of  the  cat  kind,  in  great  numbers, 
which  were  also  fed  on  fowls.  The  care  of  these  ani- 
mals and  birds  was  assigned  to  three  hundred  men. 
There  was  another  palace  that  contained  a  number  of 
men  and  women  of  monstrous  size,  and  also  dwarfs,  and 
crooked  and  ill-formed  persons,  each  of  which  had  their 
separate  apartments.  These  also  had  their  respective 
keepers.  As  to  the  other  remarkable  things  that  the  em- 
peror had  in  his  city  for  his  amusement,  I  can  only  say 
that  they  were  numerous  and  of  various  kinds. 

He  was  served  in  the  following  manner.  Every  day 
as  soon  as  it  was  light,  six  hundred  nobles  and  men  of 
rank  were  in  attendance  at  the  palace,  who  either  sat, 
or  walked  about  the  halls  and  galleries,  and  passed  their 
time  in  conversation,  but  without  entering  the  apartment 
where  his  person  was.  The  servants  and  attendants  of 
these  nobles  remained  in  the  court-yards,  of  which  there 
were  two  or  three  of  great  extent,  and  in  the  adjoining 
street,  which  was  also  very  spacious.  They  all  re- 
mained in  attendance  from  morning  till  night ;  and  when 
his  meals  were  served,  the  nobles  were  likewise  served 
with  equal  profusion,  and  their  servants  and  secretaries 
also  had  their  allowance.  Daily  his  larder  and  wine- 
cellar  were  open  to  all  who  wished  to  eat  and  drink. 
The  meals  were  served  by  three  or  four  hundred  youths, 
who  brought  on  an  infinite  variety  of  dishes  ;  indeed, 
whenever  he  dined  or  supped,  the  table  was  loaded  with 
every  kind  of  flesh,  fishy  fruits,  and  vegetables,  that  the 


124  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

country  produced.  As  the  climate  is  cold,  they  put  a 
chafing-dish  with  live  coals  under  every  plate  and  dish, 
to  keep  them  warm.  The  meals  were  served  in  a  large 
hall,  in  which  Muteczuma  was  accustomed  to  eat,  and 
the  dishes  quite  filled  the  room,  which  was  covered  with 
mats  and  kept  very  clean.  He  sat  on  a  small  cushion 
curiously  wrought  of  leather.  During  the  meals  there 
were  present,  at  a  little  distance  from  him,  five  or  six 
elderly  caciques,  to  whom  he  presented  some  of  the  food. 
And  there  was  constantly  in  attendance  one  of  the  ser- 
vants, who  arranged  and  handed  the  dishes,  and  who 
received  from  others  whatever  was  wanted  for  the  sup- 
ply of  the  table.  Both  at  the  beginning  and  end  of  every 
meal,  they  furnished  water  for  the  hands ;  and  the  nap- 
kins used  on  these  occasions  were  never  used  a  second 
time  ;  this  was  the  case  also  with  the  plates  and  dishes, 
which  were  not  brought  again,  but  new  ones  in  place  of 
them ;  it  was  the  same  also  with  the  chafing-dishes.  He 
is  also  dressed  every  day  in  four  different  suits,  entirely 
new,  which  he  never  wears  a  second  time.  None  of  the 
caciques  who  enter  his  palace  have  their  feet  covered, 
and  when  those  for  whom  he  sends  enter  his  presence, 
they  incline  their  heads  and  look  down,  bending  their 
bodies ;  and  when  they  address  him,  they  do  not  look 
him  in  the  face  ;  this  arises  from  excessive  modesty  and 
reverence.  I  am  satisfied  that  it  proceeds  from  respect, 
since  certain  caciques  reproved  the  Spaniards  for  their 
boldness  in  addressing  me,  saying  that  it  showed  a  want 
of  becoming  deference.  Whenever  Muteczuma  appear- 
ed in  public,  which  was  seldom  the  case,  all  those  who 
accompanied  him,  or  whom  he  accidentally  met  in  the 
streets,  turned  away  without  looking  towards  him,  and 
others  prostrated  themselves  until  he  had  passed.     One 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  125 

of  the  nobles  always  preceded  him  on  these  occasions, 
carrying  three  slender  rods  erect,  which  I  suppose  was 
to  give  notice  of  the  approach  of  his  person.  And  when 
they  descended  from  the  litters,  he  took  one  of  them  in 
his  hand,  and  held  it  Nmtil  he  reached  the  place  where 
he  was  going.  So  many  and  various  were  the  ceremo- 
nies and  customs  observed  by  those  in  the  service  of 
Muteczuma,  that  more  space  than  I  can  spare  would  be 
required  for  the  details,  as  well  as  a  better  memory  than 
I  have  to  recollect  them  ;  since  no  sultan  or  other  infi- 
del lord,  of  whom  any  knowledge  now  exists,  ever  had 
so  much  ceremonial  in  their  courts. 


17 


120  LETTERS   GF   CORTES. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

I  remained  in  this  great  city  for  the  purpose  of  pro^ 
viding  whatever  the  service  of  your  Sacred  Majesty 
required,  and  was  engaged  in  establishing  peace  and 
an  acknowledgment  of  your  authority  amongst  numerous 
provinces  and  districts,  containing  a  vast  population, 
many  large  cities,  towns,  and  castles,  and  in  the  dis- 
covery of  mines ;  ascertaining  and  seeking  information 
of  whatever  relates  to  the  local  affairs  of  the  countries 
belonging  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Muteczuma,  as  well  as 
others  bordering  thereupon  and  known  to  him.  The 
extent  and  wonderful  productiveness  of  these  regions  are 
quite  incredible ;  and  both  Muteczuma  and  the  native 
inhabitants  promote  my  views  with  as  much  readiness 
and  good  will  as  if  they  had  recognized  ab  initio  your 
Sacred  Majesty  as  their  natural  lord  and  sovereign ;  and 
they  do  with  the  same  cheerfulness  all  things  that  I  com- 
mand them  in  your  Majesty's  name. 

In  these  concerns  and  others  of  no  less  advantage  to 
the  service  of  your  Royal  Highness,  I  was  employed 
from  the  eighth  of  November,  1519,  till  the  beginning  of 
the  present  month  of  May,  [1520,]  when,  being  quietly 
established  in  this  metropolis,  sending  out  parties  of 
Spaniards  in  various  directions,  promoting  the  peace  and 
settlement  of  the  country,  and  awaiting  with  impatience 
the  return  of  the  ships  with  your  Majesty's  answer  to  my 
former  despatch,  in  order  to  forward  by  them  what  I 
now  send,  together  with  all  the  gold  and  jewels  that  I 
had  been  able  to  amass  for  your  Majesty— there  came 


CONQXTESf-  OF   MEXICO-  197 

to  me  certain  of  the  native  inhabitants,  vassals  of  Mutec- 
zuma,  from  the  sea-coast,  and  informed  me  that  eighteen 
vessels  had  arrived  before  the  port  or  bay  of  St.  Juan, 
near  the  mountains  of  St.  Martin ;  that  they  knew  not 
who  they  were,  for  as  soon  as  they  espied  them  they  had 
come  to  bring  me  the  intelligence.  Besides  these  In- 
dians, there  came  to  me  likewise  a  native  of  the  island 
of  Fernandina,  bringing  a  letter  from  a  Spaniard  whom 
I  had  stationed  on  that  part  of  the  sea-coast,  in  order 
that  if  the  ships  arrived  he  might  give  them  some  ac- 
count of  me,  and  of  the  town  in  the  vicinity  of  that  port, 
with  a  view  to  their  safety.  In  this  letter  he  says — 
"  That  on  such  a  day  there  hove  in  sight  before  the  har- 
bor of  St.  Juan  a  single  ship  ;  that  he  had  looked  as  far 
as  he  could  see  along  the  coast,  and  had  been  unable  to 
descry  any  other,  and  he  believed  it  was  the  vessel  I  had 
despatched  to  your  Sacred  Majesty,  since  it  was  time 
for  it  to  arrive.  In  order  to  satisfy  me  of  this,  he  was 
waiting  for  the  ship  to  come  up  into  the  harbor  to  inform 
himself  about  it,  and  then  to  come  and  bring  me  the 
account." 

As  soon  as  I  had .  read  this  letter  I  despatched  two 
Spaniards  by  different  routes,  in  order  that  they  might 
not  miss  any  messenger  that  should  come  from  the  ship. 
I  directed  them  to  proceed  to  the  harbor  in  question,  and 
ascertain  what  ships  had  arrived,  where  they  came  from, 
and  what  they  had  brought ;  and  then  to  return  with 
the  greatest  possible  speed  to  bring  me  the  intelligence. 
I  also  despatched  another  messenger  to  the  town  of  Vera 
Cruz,  to  inform  the  authorities  of  what  was  known  re- 
specting these  ships,  that  they  might  get  additional  in- 
formation and  communicate  it  to  me ;  and  another  to  the 
captain  whom  I  had  sent  with  one  hundred  and  fifty 


123  LETTERS  OP   CORTES. 

men  to  form  a  settlement  at  the  port  of  Cuacucalco,  to 
whom  I  wrote  that  he  should  remain  wherever  the  mes- 
senger might  meet  bim,  and  not  proceed  until  he  had 
again  heard  from  me,  as  I  had  received  intelligence  of 
the  arrival  of  certain  ships  in  the  port ;  but  it  afterwards 
appeared  that  he  knew  of  their  arrival  at  the  time  when 
he  received  my  letter. 

After  these  messengers  were  gone,  fifteen  days  passed 
before  I  heard  any  thing  more,  or  received  any  answer 
from  them.,  which  not  a  little  surprised  me.  But  at  the 
expiration  of  that  time,-  other  Indians,  also  yassals  of 
Muteczuma,  came,  from  whom  I  learned  that  the  ships  in 
question  had  already  cast  anchor  in  the  port  of  San  Juan, 
and  the  people  had  landed  from  them  ;  that  they  brought 
with  them  eighty  horses,  eight  hundred  men,  and  ten  or 
twelve  pieces  of  ordnance,  all  which  were  depicted  on 
the  paper  pf  the  country  to  be  shown  to  Mnteczuma. 
They  also  reported  that  the  Spaniard  whom  I  had  sta- 
tioned on  the  coast,  and  the  other  messengers  that  I  had 
sent,  were  with  the  new  comers,  and  that  they  had  in- 
formed those  Indians,  (who  brought  the  intelligence,)  that 
the  leader  of  the  party  would  not  suffer  them  to  return 
to  me,  of  which  they  wished  me  to  be  informed.  As 
soon  as  this  was  known,  I  determined  to  send  a  priest* 
I  had  brought  with  me,  with  letters  from  myself  and  the 
Alcaldes  and  Regidores  of  the  town  of  Vera  Cruz,  then 
in  the  city,  addressed  to  the  captain  and  others  arrived 
at  that  port,  informing  them  fully  of  the  success  that  had 
attended  me  in  this  country  ;  that  I  was  in  possession  of 
many  cities,  towns,  and  fortified  places,  which  had  been 
taken  and  subdued,  and  were  now  in  peaceful  subjection 

*  Fr.  Bartolome  de  Olmedo,  of  the  religious  order  de  la  Merced,  who  came  as 
chaplain  to  the  expedition,  with  the  Licentiate  Juan  Bias.-r-L. 


CONQUEST  OP   MEXICO.  129 

to  your  Majesty,  the  chief  ruler  of  the  country  being  a 
prisoner  in  my  hands  ;  that  I  was  then  in  the  great  city, 
describing  its  character,  and  the  gold  and  jewels  which 
I  held  for  your  Majesty  ;  and  that  I  had  transmitted  to 
your  Majesty  an  account  of  this  country.  And  I  begged 
them  to  inform  me  who  they  were,  and  that  if  they  were 
native  subjects  of  the  kingdoms  and  dominions  of  your 
Highness,  they  would  write  me  whether  they  had  come 
to  this  land  by  the  command  of  your  Majesty  to  found 
colonies  and  abide  here,  or  intended  to  proceed  farther, 
or  to  return  home  again;  or  if  they  were  in  distress,  I 
would  supply  them  with  every  thing  in  my  power.  But 
should  they  not  belong  to  your  Highness'  dominions,  I 
begged  that  they  would  notwithstanding  inform  me  whe- 
ther they  had  suffered  any  disaster,  as  I  would  do  all  in  my 
power  for  their  relief.  If  it  were  otherwise,  I  desired 
them,  on  behalf  of  your  Majesty,  that  they  would  at  once 
depart  from  your  territory  without  landing  upon  it — inti- 
mating that  if  they  did  not,  I  should  march  against  them 
with  all  the  forces  under  my  command,  both  Spanish  and 
native,  and  capture  or  put  them  to  death,  as  intruders 
upon  the  realm  and  dominions  of  the  king  my  master. 

The  priest  having  departed  with  this  despatch,  there 
arrived  five  days  after  at  the  city  of  Temixtitan,  twenty 
Spaniards,  of  the  number  of  those  whom  I  had  stationed 
at  the  town  of  Vera  Cruz,  who  brought  with  them  a 
priest  and  two  lay  brothers  taken  in  that  place ;  from  the 
latter  I  learned  that  the  fleet  and  men  in  that  port  were 
acting  under  the  orders  of  Diego  Velazquez,  [Governor 
of  Cuba,]  and  were  commanded  in  person  by  one  Pan- 
filo  Narvaez,  an  inhabitant  of  the  island  Fernandina 
[Cuba]  ;  that  they  had  brought  eighty  horses,  several 
pieces   of  artillery,   and  eight   hundred   foot  soldiers, 


•irETfEBS   OF  COETES-' 

amongst  whom  were  eighty  musketeers  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty  bowmen  ;  that  Narvaez  had  come  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  Captain  General  and  Lieutenant  Governor 
over  these  countries,  by  the  appointment  of  Diego  Velaz- 
quez, from  whom  he  had  received  your  Majesty's  orders  ; 
and  that  the  messengers  I  had  sent,  and  the  man  I  had 
stationed  on  the  coast,  had  been  taken  by  Narvaez,  and 
were  not  suffered  to  depart— by  whom  he  had  been  in- 
formed of  the  town  I  had  built  twelve  leagues  from  that 
port,  and  of  the  people  residing  there,  as  well  as  of  the 
party  I  had  sent  to  Cuacucalco,  in  the  province  called 
Tuchitebeque,  thirty  leagues  from  the  port ;  and  likewise 
of  all  that  I  had  accomplished  in  the  country  in  the  ser- 
vice of  your  Highness ;  the  cities  and  towns  I  had  con- 
quered and  reduced  to  a  state  of  peaceful  subjection, 
especially  the  great  city  of  Temixtitan ;  the  gold  and 
jewels  that  the  country  afforded  ;  and  all  things  else 
showing  the  success  of  my  operations.  In  consequence 
of  their  statements,  Narvaez  had  sent  these  persons  to 
Vera  Cruz  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  the  people  who 
were  there  to  join  his  standard  and  declare  against  me. 
They  also  brought  with  them  more  than  a  hundred  letters, 
that  Narvaez  and  his  people  had  sent  to  those  at  Vera 
Cruz,  desiring  them  to  place  confidence  in  whatever  the 
priest  and  those  with  him  should  say ;  promising,  on 
behalf  of  D.  Velazquez  and  himself  acting  in  his  name, 
that  if  they  did  so,  they  should  be  well  rewarded  ;  but 
that  they  who  acted  otherwise  would  be  subjected  to 
severe  treatment.  These  and  other  things  contained  in 
the  letters  the  priest  and  those  with  him  reported. 

Almost  at  the  same  moment  there  arrived  a  Spaniard 
of  the  party  that  I  had  sent  to  Cuacucalco,  who  brought  me 
letters  from  the  commander  there,  one  Juan  Velazquez 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  131 

de  Leon,  informing  me  that  the  expedition  in  question 
was  commanded  by  Panfilo  de  Narvaez,  acting  in  the 
name  of  Diego  Velazquez ;  and  forwarding  a  letter  which 
Narvaez  had  sent  by  an  Indian  to  him,  as  a  relative  of 
Diego  Velazquez,  and  brother-in-law  of  Narvaez  ;  in 
which  Narvaez  stated  that  he  had  learned  by  some 
messengers  of  mine  that  he  was  at  that  place  with  a 
party  of  men,  and  bade  him  come  directly  to  him  with 
his  men  ;  for  by  so  doing  he  would  act  with  propriety, 
and  perform  his  duty  to  his  relatives  ;  that  he  was  fully 
of  the  belief  that  I  had  controlled  him  by  force  ;  these 
and  other  things  were  contained  in  the  letter  of  Narvaez 
to  Captain  Juan  Velazquez.  That  officer,  however, 
feeling  that  the  service  of  your  Majesty  was  of  stronger 
obligation,  not  only  refused  to  accept  the  offers  of  Nar- 
vaez, but  immediately  set  out,  after  having  despatched 
the  letter  to  me,  and  came  to  join  me  with  all  his  force. 
.  Afterwards  I  informed  myself  by  this  priest  and  the 
others  with  him  respecting  many  things,  especially  of 
the  intentions  of  Diego  Velazquez  and  Narvaez ;  that 
they  had  been  induced  to  despatch  this  expedition  against 
me  on  account  of  my  having  sent  a  report  of  my  opera- 
tions and  of  the  country  to  your  Majesty  instead  of 
Diego  Velasquez,  and  that  they  had  come  with  a  deadly 
purpose  to  destroy  me  and  many  of  those  under  my 
command,  whom  they  had  already  marked  as  their  in- 
tended victims.  I  also  ascertained  that  the  Licentiate 
Eigueroa,  President  of  the  Royal  Audience  in  the  island 
of  Espanola,  and  the  judges  and  officials  of  your  High- 
ness residing  there,  when  it  came  to  their  knowledge 
that  the  said  Diego  Velasquez  had  got  ready  a  fleet  for 
this  avowed  purpose,  and  it  being  apparent  to  them  that 
the  consequences  would  be  injurious  to  your  Majesty's. 


132  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

service,  despatched  the  Licentiate  Lucas  Vazquez  de 
Ayllon,  one  of  their  number,  with  an  order  from  them, 
requiring  and  commanding  Diego  Velazquez  to  stop  the 
sailing  of  the  expedition.  On  his  arrival  Ayllon  found 
Diego  Velasquez  with  all  his  fleet  at  the  extreme  point 
of  the  island  Fernandina,  ready  to  set  sail,  when  he  im- 
mediately required  both  the  commander  and  all  those 
engaged  with  him  to  desist  from  the  enterprise,  as  in- 
jurious to  the  service  of  your  Highness,  imposing  heavy 
penalties  in  case  of  disobedience ;  notwithstanding  which, 
and  in  open  violation  of  the  requisitions  and  orders  of  the 
Licentiate,  the  fleet  had  been  despatched  by  Velasquez. 
Thinking  to  be  able  to  avert  the  mischief  likely  to  be  the 
result  of  this  expedition,  the  evil  design  of  which  was 
well  known  to  him  and  others,  Ayllon  had  also  embarked 
and  arrived  with  it. 

I  sent  this  priest  with  a  letter  to  Narvaez,  in  which  I 
informed  him  I  had  learned  by  the  priest  and  those  who 
had  come  with  him,  that  he  had  the  command  of  the 
force  which  had  arrived  in  the  ships,  whereat  I  was 
much  pleased,  since  otherwise  I  might  have  supposed 
the  expedition  an  unfriendly  one,  as  the  messengers 
despatched  by  me  had  not  returned  ;  nevertheless  I  was 
surprised,  that,  as  he  knew  I  was  here  in  the  service  of 
your  Highness,  he  had  not  written  or  sent  a  messenger, 
apprising  me  of  his  arrival ;  especially  when  he  knew 
that  the  information  must  afford  me  pleasure,  as  well  on 
account  of  our  old  friendship,  as  from  the  circumstance 
that  he  came  in  the  service  of  your  Highness,  which  I 
was  most  desirous  of  promoting ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
had  sent  secret  agents  with  bribes  to  induce  the  men 
under  my  command,  and  in  the  service  of  your  Majesty, 
to  throw  off  their  allegiance  and  join  him,  as  if  we  were 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  133 

infidels,  and  they  christians,  or  they  vassals  of  your 
Highness,  and  we  traitors.  I  therefore  begged  him  that 
henceforth  he  would  take  no  steps -before  he  had  informed 
me  of  the  cause  of  his  coming.  I  added  that  I  had  heard 
he  was  entitled  Captain  General  and  Lieutenant  Go- 
vernor by  Diego  Velazquez,  and.  that  he  had  caused 
himself  to  be  so  proclaimed  on  his  arrival  in  this  coun- 
try ;  that  he  had  constituted  alcaldes  and  regidores,  and 
administered  justice,  which  proceedings  were  injurious 
to  your  Highness'  service,  and  in  violation  of  all  the 
laws  ;  since  this  country,  appertaining  to  your  Majesty, 
and  being  settled  by  your  subjects,  possessed  a  judicial 
tribunal  for  the  administration  of  justice,  and  that  he 
ought  not  to  assume  those  duties  without  being  first  ac- 
knowledged by  the  people,  even  if  he  had  brought  the 
commands  of  your  Majesty.  And  I  begged  and  required 
of  him  that  if  he  had  brought  any  such  orders  he  should 
present  them  to  me,  and  to  the  municipal  authorities  of 
Vera  Cruz  ;  when  they  would  be  obeyed  both  by  them 
and  me,  as  the  commands  of  our  king  and  natural  lord, 
and  duly  executed  so  far  as  conduced  to  your  Majesty's 
royal  service.  For  I  was  in  the  great  city,  and  held  the 
sovereign  a  prisoner  in  it ;  I  also  had  in  my  possession 
a  large  amount  of  gold  and  jewels,  belonging  to  your 
Highness,  as  well  as  to  myself  and  my  companions, 
which  I  dared  not  leave,  lest  on  my  departure  from  the 
city  the  people  should  rebel,  and  I  should  lose  all  the 
gold  and  jewels,  and  the  city  itself;  especially  since  if  I 
lost  the  city,  I  should  also  lose  possession  of  the  whole 
country. 

I  also  gave  the  same  priest  a  letter  for  the  Licentiate 
Ayllon  ;  who,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  when  the  priest 
arrived  at  the  port,  had  .been  arrested  by  Narvaez,  and 

18 


134  Letters  of  cortes. 

sent  back  a  prisoner,  two  vessels  having  been  employed 
for  that  purpose. 

The  day  on  which  the  priest  departed  there  came  a 
messenger  from  the  people  at  Vera  Cruz,  who  brought 
me  intelligence  that  all  the  natives  of  the  country  had 
risen  in  rebellion,  and  joined  Narvaez,  especially  those 
of  the  city  of  Cempoal  and  its  dependencies  ;  and  that 
not  one  of  them  could  be  induced  to  perform  any  service 
in  the  town,  either  in  the  garrison  or  otherwise,  because, 
as  they  said,  Narvaez  had  told  them  I  was  a  traitor,  and 
that  he  had  come  to  seize  me  and  all  my  companions, 
but  that  having  taken  us  prisoners  he  should  leave  the 
country.  They  added,  that  Narvaez  had  a  large  force, 
While  mine  was  but  small;  that  he  had  many  horses 
and  a  great  deal  of  artillery,  while  I  had  little  of  either ; 
and  that  their  motto  was,  "  viva  quien  vencc"  long  live 
the  victorious !  I  was  also  informed  by  the  same  mes- 
senger that,  according  to  the  report  of  the  Indians,  Nar- 
vaez was  about  to  occupy  the  city  of  Cempoal  with  his 
army,  and  having  already  informed  himself  of  its  dis- 
tance from  Vera  Cruz,  the  people  of  that  place  believed, 
from  the  accounts  they  had  received  of  his  wicked  pur- 
poses, that  he  intended  to  attack  them,  aided  by  the 
Indians  of  Cempoal,  and  they  gave  me  to  understand 
that  they  should  abandon  the  town  rather  than  contend 
with  him,  and  to  avoid  reproach  take  refuge  in  the 
mountains  under  the  protection  of  a  chief  who  is  a  vas- 
sal of  your  Highness  and  a  friend  to  us  ;  there  they  in- 
tended to  remain  until  I  sent  them  directions  what  to  do. 

As  I  perceived  the  great  mischief  that  was  about  to 
result  from  this  matter,  and  as  the  country  had  risen  in 
support  of  Narvaez,  it  appeared  to  me,  that  by  going  my- 
self where  he  was,  I  should  be  able  to  quell  the  move- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  135 

ment ;  since,  when  the  Indians  saw  me  in  person  they 
would  not  dare  to  show  symptoms  of  disaffection.  I 
also  thought  that  I  might  bring  about  an  arrangement 
with  Narvaez,  by  which  so  great  a  cause  of  scandal  as 
had  arisen  might  be  effectually  checked.  Therefore  I 
set  out  on  the  same  day,  leaving  the  garrison  well  supplied 
with  maize  and  water,  and  containing  five  hundred  men 
with  several  pieces  of  cannon.  Taking  the  rest  of  the 
people  that  I  had  there,  about  seventy  in  number,  I  pur- 
sued my  journey,  accompanied  by  some  of  the  principal 
personages  of  the  court  of  Muteezuma  ;  to  the  latter,  be- 
fore I  left,  I  had  much  to  say,  and  amongst  other  things, 
"  that  he  should  reflect  that  he  was  a  vassal  of  your 
Highness,  and  that  he  was  now  about  to  receive  from 
your  Majesty  a  reward  for  the  services  he  had  rendered; 
and  that  I  left  entrusted  to  his  care  a  number  of  my 
Spaniards,  together  with  all  the  gold  and  jewels  which 
he  had  given  me  in  compliance  with  the  orders  of  your 
Highness ;  that  I  was  going  to  meet  the  people  who 
had  arrived  in  the  country,  to  ascertain  who  they  were, 
as  I  had  not  yet  been  informed,  but  believed  they 
must  be  bad  men,  and  not  vassals  of  your  Highness." 
He  then  promised  to  supply  whatever  wras  necessary, 
and  to  take  good  care  of  what  I  had  left  belonging  to 
your  Majesty ;  and  added  that  his  people  who  accom- 
panied me  would  take  me  by  a  route  that  led  entirely 
within  his  territory,  and  would  provide  every  thing  I 
might  want ;  begging  me  to  inform  him  if  we  met  with 
any  troublesome  persons  on  the  road,  that  he  might  im- 
mediately despatch  a  sufficient  force  to  attack  and  drive 
them  away.  All  this  I  listened  to  with  pleasure,  and 
declared  that,  in  consideration  of  these  services,  your 
Highness  would  command  me  to  bestow  on  him  areat 


136  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

rewards ;  and  I  gave  many  jewels  and  much  cotton  cloth 
to  him  and  his  son,  and  to  several  caciques  who  were 
then  with  him. 

In  the  city  called  Chururtecal,  [Cholula,]  I  met  with 
Juan  Velazquez,  the  captain  whom,  as  I  have  already 
mentioned,  I  sent  to  Cuacuacalco,  who  was  returning 
with  all  his  people ;  some  of  them,  being  indisposed,  I 
sent  to  the  city,  and  with  the  captain  and  the  rest  of  the 
party  I  continued  my  route.  Fifteen  leagues  beyond  the 
city  of  Chururtecal,  I  fell  in  with  a  religious  padre  of 
my  company,  whom  I  had  sent  to  the  port  to  ascertain 
what  people  had  arrived  there  in  the  fleet.  He  brought 
me  a  letter  from  Narvaez,  in  which  he  stated  that  he  had 
brought  a  commission  to  take  possession  of  the  country 
for  Diego  Velazquez ;  that  I  must  instantly  repair  to 
the  place  where  he  was,  for  the  purpose  of  yielding  obe- 
dience thereto ;  and  that  he  had  established  there  a 
town  with  alcaldes  and  regidores  for  its  government.  I 
also  learned  from  the  same  priest  that  they  had  taken 
the  Licentiate  Ayllon,  and  his  secretary  and  alguazil, 
and  sent  them  away  in  two  ships ;  that  they  had  offered 
him  money  with  which  he  might  induce  some  of  my 
people  to  pass  over  to  the  service  of  Narvaez ;  and  had 
caused  a  review  to  take  place  before  him  and  certain  In- 
dians that  were  with  him,  of  their  wThole  force,  both  foot 
and  horse,  discharging  the  artillery  pieces  on  board  the 
ships  and  on  shore  in  order  to  strike  terror  into  them, 
saying  to  the  priest — "  See,  how  can  you  stand  against 
us  if  you  do  not  act  according  to  our  wishes  ?"  He  also 
told  me  that  there  was  a  native  cacique  with  Narvaez, 
who  was  a  vassal  of  Muteczuma,  being  the  governor  over 
all  his  territory  along  the  sea-coast ;  and  he  knew  tha 
this  man  had  addressed  Narvaez  on  behalf  of  Mutec- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  137 

zuma,  and  given  him  some  trinkets  of  gold  ;  and  that 
Narvaez  had  in  return  made  him  certain  small  presents. 
He  also  stated  that  Narvaez  had  despatched  messengers 
from  thence  to  Muteczuma,  saying  that  he  would  set  him  at 
liberty,  and  would  seize  me  and  all  my  companions,  and 
immediately  depart  and  abandon  the  country ;  and  that  he 
was  not  in  quest  of  gold,  but  only  sought  to  make  prisoners 
of  me  and  my  men ;  after  effecting  which  he  should 
leave  his  dominions  and  his  people  in  perfect  freedom. 
Finally,  I  ascertained  that  it  was  his  intention  to  assume 
jurisdiction  over  the  country  without  seeking  any  public 
acknowledgment  of  his  authority ;  and  that  in  case  I 
and  those  of  my  party  did  not  choose  to  recognize  him 
as  our  commander  and  judge  in  the  name  of  Diego  Ve- 
lazquez, he  would  march  against  us  for  the  purpose  of 
exterminating  us  by  war ;  to  which  end  he  had  formed 
an  alliance  with  the  natives  of  the  country,  especially 
with  Muteczuma  by  means  of  his  messengers. 

When  I  saw  so  manifestly  the  great  extent  of  injury 
that  would  ensue  to  your  Majesty's  service  from  the 
measures  taken  by  this  person,  especially  on  being  in- 
formed of  the  great  force  he  had  brought  with  him,  and  of 
his  orders  from  Diego  Velazquez  to  hang  me  and  certain 
of  my  companions,  who  were  marked  for  this  fate,  as 
soon  as  he  should  get  us  into  his  power — I  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  approach  him,  with  the  belief  that  I  could  make 
him  understand  the  great  disservice  he  was  doing  your 
Highness,  and  divert  him  from  the  mad  design  and 
injurious  purpose  with  which  he  had  come.  I  thus 
pursued  my  course,  and  when  fifteen  leagues  dis- 
tant from  the  city  of  Cempoal,  in  which  Narvaez  was 
encamped,  there  came  to  me  the  priest  already  men- 
tioned, who  had  been  previously  sent  to  me  from  Vera 


13S  LETTERS    OF    CORTES, 

Cruz,  (by  whom  I  had  written  to  Narvaez  and  the  Li- 
centiate Ayllon,)  together  with  another  priest,  and  one 
Andrew  de  Duero,  an  inhabitant  of  the  island  of  Fer- 
nandina,  who  had  also  arrived  with  Narvaez ;  who,  in 
answer  to  my  letter,  informed  me,  on  the  part  of  Nar- 
vaez, that  I  must  yield  obedience  to  him  as  my  com- 
mander, and  deliver  the  country  into  his  power,  as  other- 
wise I  should  suffer  great  injury,  Narvaez  having  a  large 
force,  and  I  only  a  small  one ;  that  besides  the  many 
Spanish  troops  he  had  with  him,  most  of  the  people  of 
the  country  were  in  his  favor ;  and  that  if  I  would  give 
him  possession  of  the  country,  he  would  surrender  the 
ships  to  me,  and  all  the  provisions  I  might  require,  and 
allow  me  and  all  who  wished  to  leave  with  me,  to  em- 
bark, taking  every  thing  that  we  wished  to  carry  away, 
without  interposing  the  slightest  obstacle  in  any  respect. 
And  one  of  the  priests  informed  me  that  Diego  Velazquez 
had  authorized  them  to  make  this  arrangement  with  me, 
having  for  this  purpose  given  to  Narvaez  and  the  two 
priests  a  joint  commission,  so  that  they  could  adjust 
matters  as  I  might  please. 

I  answered  them  that  I  had  seen  no  orders  from  your 
Highness  directing  me  to  deliver  up  the  country,  and 
that  if  Narvaez  had  brought  any,  he  should  present  them 
to  me,  and  to  the  proper  tribunal  of  Vera  Cruz,  accord- 
ing to  the  regulations  and  customs  of  Spain,  where  I 
would  repair  in  readiness  to  obey  them  ;  but  that  until 
this  was  done,  no  inducement  of  interest  or  favor  would 
prevail  upon  me  to  comply  with  his  wishes  ;  that  I  and  my 
companions  would  rather  die  in  defence  of  the  country 
which  we  had  gained,  and  possessed  in  a  secure  and 
tranquil  state,  and  that  we  could  not  turn  traitors,  or  for- 
feit our  loyalty  to  our  sovereign.  Many  other  considera- 
tions influenced  me  to  decline  their  proposals,  and  I  de- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  13(J 

clared  that  I  would  listen  to  nothing  but  an  order  from 
your  Highness,  imposing  the  duty  upon  me— -which  they 
never  chose  to  show  me.  In  conclusion,  these  priests, 
Andrew  de  Duero,  and  myself  agreed,  thatNarvaez,  at- 
tended by  ten  persons,  and  I  with  as  many  others,  should 
have  a  peaceable  interview,  when  he  should  make  known 
to  me  his  instructions,  if  he  had  brought  any,  to  which 
I  should  give  my  answer  ;  for  this  purpose  I,  on  my  part, 
sent  a  passport  signed  by  myself,  and  he  likewise  gave 
me  another  in  return,  subscribed  with  his  name ;  which, 
however,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  he  had  no  idea  of  ob- 
serving ;  for  it  was  planned  that  the  interview  should 
be  so  arranged  as  to  enable  them  to  despatch  me  at 
once ;  and  two  of  the  ten  persons  who  were  to  come 
with  him,  were  selected  to  execute  this  purpose,  while 
the  others  were  to  engage  with  my  attendants.  Thus 
they  said  if  I  was  killed,  the  object  would  be  accom- 
plished ;  as  in  truth  it  would  have  been,  if  God,  who 
interposes  in  such  cases,  had  not  thwarted  the  design  by 
orantino-  me  certain  notice  of  it  at  the  same  time  that  the 
pass  was  brought  to  me.  This  plot  being  discovered, 
I  wrote  a  letter  to  Narvaez,  and  another  to  the  three  com- 
missioners, in  which  I  stated  to  them  that  I  had  learned 
their  treacherous  design,, and  refused  to  have  the  inter- 
view in  the  manner  agreed  upon. 

Immediately  after  this  occurrence,  I  sent  certain  re- 
quisitions and  orders  to  Narvaez,  demanding  of  him  that, 
if  he  had  brought  any  orders  from  your  Highness,  he 
should  give  me  notice  of  them,  and  that  until  he  did  so 
he  must  not  assume  the  title  of  commander  or  magistrate, 
nor  intermeddle  with  any  of  the  duties  connected  with 
those  offices,  under  a  certain  penalty  which  I  imposed 
upon  him.     I  likewise,  in  the  same  manner,  commanded 


140  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

all  persons  who  were  with  Narvaez,  that  they  should  not 
treat,  nor  obey,  the  said  Narvaez  as  captain  or  ma- 
gistrate ;  but  on  the  other  hand,  that  within  a  certain  time 
which  I  indicated  in  the  order,  they  should  appear  before 
me,  that  I  might  be  able  to  instruct  them  what  they 
should  do  in  the  service  of  your  Highness ;  declaring, 
that  if  they  did  otherwise,  1  would  proceed  against  them  as 
traitors  and  perfidious  subjects  in  rebellion  against  their 
king,  and  plotting  to  usurp  his  lands  and  dominions,  to 
give  them  to  persons  to  whom  they  did  not  belong,  and  who 
were  destitute  of  all  claim  and  just  right  thereto.  And 
that  to  carry  this  order  into  execution,  in  case  they  did  not 
appear  before  me,  nor  perform  what  was  enjoined  in 
said  order,  I  should  proceed  to  arrest  and  imprison  them 
conformably  to  the  law. 

As  an  answer  to  my  proceedings,  Narvaez  caused  the 
notary  and  one  other  person  by  whom  I  had  sent  my 
notices,  to  be  apprehended,  together  with  several  Indians 
who  had  gone  with  them,  all  of  whom  were  detained 
until  another  messenger  arrived  from  me,  to  inquire  what 
had  become  of  the  others.  He.then  caused  all  his  force 
to  pass  in  review  before  them,  and  uttered  threats  against 
them  and  me,  if  we  did  not  deliver  up  the  land.  Seeing 
this,  and  that  there  was  no  way  in  which  I  could  avoid 
so  great  a  calamity,  and  that  the  natives  of  the  country 
were  becoming  restless,  and  growing  more  so  from  day 
to  day,  commending  myself  to  God,  and  disregarding  all 
fear  of  the  loss  that  might  ensue — reflecting  that  if  I  died 
in  the  service  of  my  king,  and  in  the  defence  and  pro- 
tection of  his  dominions,  to  prevent  their  being  usurped; 
sufficient  glory  would  accrue  to  me  and  my  companions 
— I  gave  orders  to  Gonzalo  de  Sandoval,  alguazil  mayor,* 

*  This  office  corresponds  in  a  certain  degree  to  that  of  High  Sheriff. 


CONQUEST    OF   MEXICO.  141 

to  arrest  the  said  Narvaez  and  those  persons  who  styled 
themselves  alcaldes  and  regidores  ;  and  for  this  purpose 
I  placed  eighty  men  under  his  command  to  proceed  with 
him  to  make  the  arrest ; — taking  myself  one  hundred  and 
seventy  others,  (the  whole  number  being  two  hundred 
and  fifty,)  without  artillery  or  horse,  but  on  foot,  I  fol- 
lowed the  alguazil  mayor  to  support  him,  in  case  the 
said  Narvaez  and  the  rest  should  choose  to  resist  the  exe- 
cution of  his  process. 

On  the  same  day  that  the  alguazil  mayor  and  myself 
arrived  with  our  party  near  the  city  of  Cempoal,  where 
Narvaez  had  quartered  his  army,  he  received  information 
of  our  approach,  and  sallied  out  with  eighty  horse  and 
five  hundred  foot,  leaving  the  rest  of  his  force  within 
their  quarters  in  the  great  temple  of  the  city,  which  was 
strongly  fortified.  Having  marched  out  within  a  league 
of  the  place  where  we  were,  and  not  finding  us,  he  con- 
cluded that  the  Indians  who  had  given  the  alarm  had 
deceived  him,  and  returned  to  the  city,  taking  the  pre- 
caution to  have  his  whole  force  in  readiness,  and  posting 
two  men  about  a  league  from  the  city  to  give  notice  of 
our  approach.  As  I  was  desirous  of  avoiding  as  much 
as  possible  all  offensive  appearances,  it  seemed  to  me 
that  it  would  be  best  to  go  by  night,  without  being  dis- 
covered, if  practicable,  directly  to  the  quarters  of  Nar- 
vaez, (with  the  situation  of  which  we  were  all  well 
acquainted,)  and  seize  him  at  once ;  for  I  thought  that 
as  soon  as  he  was  taken  prisoner  there  would  be  no 
further  trouble.  The  others  with  him  would  then  yield 
obedience  to  the  laws,  especially  those  who  had  been 
forcibly  pressed  into  the  service  by  Diego  Velazquez,  or 
threatened  by  him  with  the  loss  of  their  Indian  slaves  in 
the  Island  of  Fernandina. 

19 


142  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

On  Easter  day,  a  little  after  midnight,  I  marched  for  the 
quarters  of  Narvaez,  and  before  I  met  with  the  men  he 
had  posted  outside  of  the  city,  the  scouts  I  had  sent  for- 
ward took  one  of  them  prisoner,  but  the  other  made  his 
escape ;  from  the  former  I  received  information  of  the 
state  of  things  in  the  city.  I  then  hastened  as  much  as 
possible  to  prevent  the  one  who  had  escaped  from  arriving 
before  me,  and  giving  notice  of  my  approach ;  but  not- 
withstanding my  exertions,  he  was  half  an  hour  in  ad- 
vance of  me.  When  I  reached  the  city  Narvaez  had  all 
his  men  in  full  armor,  and  the  horses  caparisoned,  in 
complete  readiness,  and  two  hundred  men  guarded  every 
square.  We  moved  so  silently  that  when  we  were  at 
last  discovered,  and  the  alarm  was  given,  I  had  entered 
the  square  in  which  were  the  quarters  occupied  by  the 
whole  army,  and  had  taken  possession  of  three  or  four 
towers,  besides  the  other  strong  buildings  that  stood  in 
the  square.  In  one  of  these  towers  where  Narvaez  was 
quartered,  the  staircase  was  defended  by  nineteen  match- 
locks ;  but  we  mounted  it  with  such  rapidity  that  they 
had  not  time  to  put  fire  to  more  than  one  of  the  pieces, 
which,  it  pleased  God,  did  not  go  off,  nor  occasion  any 
injury.  So  our  men  ascended  the  tower  until  they 
reached  the  apartment  of  Narvaez,  where  he  and  about 
fifty  of  his  men  fought  wTith  the  alguazil  mayor  and  the 
rest  that  had  gone  up,  and  although  the  latter  called  upon 
them  many  times  to  surrender  to  your  Highness,  they 
refused  until  the  building  was  set  on  fire,  when  they  at 
last  gave  in. 

While  the  alguazil  mayor  was  employed  in  taking 
Narvaez,  I  with  the  rest  of  our  force,  who  came  to  their 
assistance,  guarded  the  ascent  of  the  tower,  and  caused 
the  artillery  to  be  seized  and  used  for  our  defence.  Thus 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  143 

without  the  loss  of  more  than  two  men,  who  were  killed 
by  the  discharge  of  a  gun,  all  those  that  we  wished  to 
arrest  were  taken,  and  the  rest  deprived  of  their  arms, 
promising  obedience  to  your  Majesty's  officers  of  justice  ; 
declaring  that  until  then  they  had  been  deceived,  having 
been  told  that  Narvaez  had  orders  from  your  Majesty, 
and  that  I  had  been  guilty  of  rebellion  in  this  country, 
and  was  a  traitor  to  your  Majesty,  together  with  many 
other  things  of  a  similar  character.  As  soon  as  they 
learned  the  truth,  and  understood  the  bad  motives  and 
ruinous  purposes  of  Diego  Velazquez  and  Narvaez,  they 
were  struck  with  the  wickedness  of  the  plot,  and  all  ex- 
pressed their  joy  that  God  had  seen  fit  to  bring  it  to  an 
end.  And  I  assure  your  Majesty  that  if  God  had  not 
mysteriously  interposed,  and  the  victory  had  been  on  the 
side  of  Narvaez,  there  would  have  been  a  greater  de- 
struction of  life  than  has  taken  place  among  Spaniards 
for  a  long  period  in  proportion  to  the  numbers  engaged. 
He  would  have  without  doubt  executed  the  design  that 
he  had  formed,  and  which  Diego  Velazquez  had  com- 
manded, which  was  to  hang  me  and  many  of  my  com- 
panions, so  that  no  one  would  have  survived  to  call  them 
to  account.  I  was  afterwards  informed  by  the  Indians, 
that  they  had  reflected  in  case  I  was  taken  by  Narvaez, 
as  he  had  assured  them  would  happen,  that  it  could  not 
be  done  without  serious  loss  to  both  parties,  and  that 
many  Spaniards  would  fall  on  both  sides.  In  the  mean 
time  they  resolved  to  destroy  the  men  I  had  left  in  the  city 
of  Mexico,  whom  they  had  accordingly  attacked.  And 
they  intended  afterwards  to  make  a  united  assault  on  all 
that  remained  in  the  countr}?-,  so  that  they  and  their  lands 
might  be  set  free,  and  the  memory  of  the  Spaniards  con- 
signed to  oblivion.     Your  Highness  may  be  assured  that 


144  LETTERS    OF   CORTES* 

if  they  had  accomplished  their  design,  it  would  have 
required  more  than  twenty  years  to  subdue  and  recover 
a  country,  which  is  now  already  ours  and  peaceably 
secured. 

Two  days  after  the  capture  of  Narvaez — as  it  was  im- 
possible to  support  so  many  people  in  that  city,  especially 
as  it  was  already  in  part  destroyed  by  Narvaez  and  his 
party,  who  had  plundered  it,  the  inhabitants  having  fled, 
leaving  their  houses  desolate— I  despatched  two  captains 
each  with  two  hundred  men,  the  one  to  build  a  town  in 
the  port  of  Cuicicacalco  [Guazacualeo],  where  I  had 
before  sent  a  party  for  the  same  purpose,  as  I  have  in- 
formed your  Highness  ;  and  the  other  to  a  certain  river, 
which  the  ships  of  Francisco  de  Garay  were  said  to  have 
visited,  that  I  might  take  secure  possession  of  it.  I  also 
sent  two  hundred  men  to  Vera  Cruz,  where  I  caused  the 
ships  to  proceed  in  which  Narvaez  had  arrived. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  145 


CHAPTER  VII. 

I  remained  at  Cempoal  with  the  rest  of  the  men 
to  provide  for  the  interests  of  your  Majesty.  I  also  de- 
spatched a  messenger  to  the  city  of  Temixtitan,  by  whom 
I  made  known  to  the  Spaniards  I  had  left  there  the  suc- 
cess of  my  enterprise.  This  messenger  returned  from 
thence  in  twelve  days,  and  brought  me  letters  from  the 
alcalde  whom  I  had  left  in  authority,  in  which  he  in- 
formed me  that  the  Indians  had  attacked  the  garrison 
on  all  sides,  and  set  fire  to  it  in  many  places  ;  that  they 
had  sunk  mines  about  it,  placing  our  people  in  imminent 
danger ;  all  of  whom  would  perish,  unless  Muteczuma 
should  command  the  hostile  operations  to  cease ;  that 
at  the  present  moment  they  were  closely  invested,  and  al- 
though the  fighting  had  been  discontinued,  yet  no  one 
was  suffered  to  go  two  steps  from  the  garrison.  It  was 
added,  that  a  great  part  of  their  supplies  had  been  for- 
cibly seized,  and  that  the  enemy  had  burned  the  four 
brigantines  I  had  built  there  ;  and  finally,  that  our  people 
were  in  extreme  distress,  and  begged  me  to  come  to 
their  aid  with  the  greatest  possible  haste.  Seeing  to 
what  extremities  they  were  reduced,  and  that  if  I  did 
not  instantly  fly  to  their  relief,  not  only  would  their  lives 
be  sacrificed,  together  with  all  the  gold,  silver,  and  jew- 
els, of  which  we  had  become  possessed,  as  well  the  por- 
tion appertaining  to  your  Highness,  as  that  assigned »to 
the  army  and  myself;  but  that  it  would  also  involve  the 
loss  of  the  greatest  and  noblest  city  in  the  whole  new 
world,  and  with  it  every  thing  we  had  gained,  since  it 


146  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

was  the  chief  seat  of  the  empire,  to  which  all  the  rest 
yielded  obedience — I  therefore  forthwith  despatched 
messengers  to  the  officers  I  had  sent  away  with  parties 
of  men,  informing  them  what  I  had  heard  from  the  capi- 
tal, and  directing  that  wherever  they  might  be,  they 
should  turn  about  at  once,  and  make  their  way  back  by 
the  shortest  possible  route  to  Tlascaltecal,  where  I  would 
join  them  with  all  the  artillery  in  my  power  and  with 
seventy  horse ;  and  when  they  had  arrived,  on  reviewing 
my  force,  I  found  it  consisted  of  seventy  horse  and  five 
hundred  foot.  With  these  troops  I  departed  in  the  great- 
est haste  for  the  capital ;  on  the  whole  route,  not  a  single 
person  owing  allegiance  to  Muteczuma  came  out  to  re- 
ceive me,  as  was  the  case  on  former  occasions  ;  the  en- 
tire country  seeming  to  have  lost  its  population  on  ac- 
count of  some  disaster.  My  suspicions  were  excited 
by  this  appearance  of  things ;  I  feared  that  our  country- 
men who  were  left  in  the  city  had  all  been  murdered, 
and  that  the  people  of  the  country  had  assembled  in  one 
mass,  waiting  to  attack  me  in  some  narrow  pass,  where 
they  might  have  the  advantage  of  me. 

Under  these  apprehensions  I  proceeded  with  great 
precaution  until  I  reached  the  city  of  Tesnacan,  [Tes- 
cuco,]  which,  as  I  have  already  informed  your  Majesty, 
lies  on  the  coast  of  that  great  lake.  Here  I  inquired  of 
some  of  the  people  concerning  the  Spaniards  who  were 
left  in  the  capital,  and  I  learned  that  they  were  alive. 
I  then  bade  them  bring  me  a  canoe,  as  I  wished  to  despatch 
one  of  my  men  to  ascertain  the  truth,  and  that  in  the  mean 
while,  during  his  absence,  they  should  leave  with  me  one 
of  their  citizens  who  appeared  to  exercise  some  autho- 
rity, as  the  principal  men  of  the  place  whom  I  had  seen 
on  former  occasions  had  all  disappeared.     This  person 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  147 

caused  a  canoe  to  be  brought,  and  sent  several  Indians 
to  accompany  my  messenger,  while  he  himself  re- 
mained with  me. 

When  the  messenger  was  about  departing  for  the  city 
of  Temixtitan,  he  perceived  another  canoe  crossing  the 
lake,  and  waited  until  it  had  reached  the  shore  ;  in  this 
came  one  of  the  Spaniards  who  had  been  left  in  the 
city,  from  whom  I  learned  that  they  were  all  living,  ex- 
cept five  or  six  who  had  been  killed  by  the  Indians. 
The  rest  were  still  closely  confined  to  their  quarters, 
which  they  were  not  allowed  to  leave  for  a  moment,  and 
were  not  even  supplied  with  the  necessaries  of  life  ex- 
cept at  a  very  high  price.     But  since  they  had  heard  of 
my  approach  to  the  city,  their  treatment  had  improved, 
and  Muteczuma  said  that  he  only  waited  for  my  arrival 
to  give  them  permission  to  go  about  the  city  as  usual. 
In  company  with  this  Spaniard  came  also  a  messenger 
from  Muteczuma,  who  sent  me  word  that  he  presumed 
I  knew  what  had  occurred  in  the  city,  and  feared  I 
should  be  deeply  incensed  against  him,  and  return  with 
the  intention  of  making  him  suffer  for  what  had  been 
done ;  but  he  begged  me  to  entertain  no  such  feelings 
towards  him,  as  he  regretted  as  much  as  I  did  the  oc- 
currences in  question,  which  had  taken  place  without 
his  agency  or  consent.     He  also  said  many  other  things 
to  appease  my  anger,  and  desired  me  to  return  to  my 
quarters  in  the  city  as  before,  promising  to  execute  my 
commands  in  every  respect  as  he  had  been  wont  to  do. 
I  answered  his  message  by  saying  that  I  should  return 
without  taking  offence  against  him  for  what  had  hap- 
pened, as  I  was  fully  aware  of  his  friendly  feelings,  and 
should  do  as  he  requested. 

On  the  following  day,  which  was  the  eve  of  St.  John 


148  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

the  Baptist,  I  proceeded  on  my  route,  and  at  night 
lodged  three  leagues  from  the  great  city.  The  next 
day  after  hearing  mass  I  resumed  the  march,  and  about 
noon  entered  the  city  ;*  seeing  but  few  persons,  and  ob- 
serving the  gates  removed  from  the  cross  streets,  I  did 
not  like  the  appearance  of  things,  although  I  thought  that 
the  people  were  alarmed  at  what  had  taken  place,  and 
that  when  I  should  be  re-established  in  the  city  all 
would  be  quiet  again.  I  marched  directly  to  the  fortress, 
in  which,  and  in  the  great  temple  adjoining  it,  all  my 
troops  were  quartered ;  those  in  the  fortress  received  us 
with  as  great  joy  as  if  we  had  restored  their  lives  to 
them,  which  they  had  already  considered  as  lost ;  and 
we  passed  that  day  and  the  following  night  in  extreme 
joy,  believing  that  peace  had  again  returned. 

The  next  day,  after  mass,  I  sent  a  messenger  to  the 
town  of  Vera  Cruz,  to  carry  the  good  news  that  the 
Christians  were  alive,  and  that  I  had  entered  the  city, 
which  was  quiet.  The  messenger  returned  in  half  an 
an  hour  after  his  departure,  covered  with  bruises  and 
injuries,  crying  aloud  that  all  the  Indians  of  the  city  were 
in  arms,  and  that  they  had  raised  the  bridges  ;  and  soon 
after  an  attack  was  made  upon  us  by  so  great  a  multi- 
tude of  people  on  all  sides,  that  neither  the  streets  nor 
the  roofs  of  the  houses  were  visible,  on  account  of  the 
crowd,  from  whom  proceeded  the  most  violent  outcries 
and  terrible  shouts  that  could  be  conceived.  Stones 
thrown  by  slings  fell  in  such  numbers  upon  the  garrison 
that  it  seemed  as  if  they  came  down  like  rain  from  the 
clouds ;  and  darts  and  arrows  were  so  thick  that  the 
houses  and  squares  were  filled  with  them,  and  almost 

*  June  24th,  1520, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  149 

prevented  our  walking  about.  I  sallied  forth  at  two  or 
three  different  points,  where  they  were  engaged  stoutly 
with  our  men  ;  and  at  one  time,  when  a  captain  had  led 
forth  200  men,  they  fell  upon  them  before  he  had  time 
to  form  them  in  order,  and  killed  four  of  their  number, 
besides  wounding  the  captain  and  several  others.  I  was 
also  wounded,  and  many  of  the  Spaniards  who  were 
with  me  engaged  in  another  quarter.  We  destroyed 
few  of  the  enemy,  because  they  took  refuge  beyond  the 
bridges,  and  did  us  much  injury  from  the  roofs  of  houses 
and  terraces,  some  of  which  fell  into  our  possession  and 
were  burned.  But  they  were  so  numerous  and  strong, 
and  so  well  defended  and  supplied  with  stones  and 
other  arms,  that  our  whole  force  was  not  sufficient  to 
take  them,  nor  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  attacking  us 
at  their  pleasure. 

The  attack  on  the  fortress  or  garrison  was  made  with 
such  violence  that  they  succeeded  in  setting  fire  to  seve- 
ral parts  of  it,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  it  was  burned 
without  our  being  able  to  prevent  it,  until  we  cut  away 
the  walls  and  levelled  a  portion  of  the  building  with  the 
ground,  by  which  we  obstructed  the  progress  of  the  fire, 
and  extinguished  it.  And  had  it  not  been  for  the  great 
caution  that  I  used  in  posting  musketeers,  archers,  and 
several  pieces  of  artiller}'",  they  would  have  scaled  our 
walls  in  broad  daylight  without  our  being  able  to  resist 
them.  Thus  we  fought  all  that  day  until  the  darkness  of 
night  enveloped  us,  and  even  then  they  continued  to 
assail  us  with  noises  and  alarms  till  daylight.  That  night 
I  directed  the  breaches  caused  by  the  fire  to  be  re- 
paired, together  with  all  other  parts  of  the  garrison  that 
seemed  to  require  it ;  and  I  arranged  the  quarters,  de- 
termining who  were  to  remain  in  them  the  next  day,  and 

20 


150  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

who  were  to  be  engaged  without ;  at  the  same  time  I 
caused  suitable  care  to  be  taken  of  the  wounded,  who 
amounted  to  more  than  eighty  in  number. 

As  soon  as  it  was  daylight,  the  enemy  renewed  the 
combat  with  still  greater  vigor  than  the  day  before,  for 
the  number  of  them  was  so  immense  that  there  was  no 
need  of  levelling  the  guns,  but  only  to  direct  them  against 
the  mass  of  Indians.  And  although  the  fire-arms  did 
much  injury,  for  we  played  off  thirteen  arquebuses  be- 
sides matchlocks  and  crossbows,  they  produced  so  little 
impression  that  their  effect  scarcely  seemed  to  be  felt ; 
since  where  a  discharge  cut  down  ten  or  twelve  men,  the 
ranks  were  instantly  closed  up  by  additional  numbers, 
and  no  apparent  loss  was  perceived.  Leaving  in  the 
garrison  a  sufficient  force  for  its  defence,  and  as  large  as 
I  could  spare,  I  sallied  forth  with  the  rest,  and  took  from 
the  enemy  several  bridges,  setting  fire  to  a  number  of 
houses  and  destroying  the  people  who  defended  them  ; 
but  they* were  so  numerous,  that  although  we  did  them 
much  injury,  the  effect  was  still  imperceptible.  Our  men 
were  compelled  to  fight  all  day  long  without  cessation, 
while  the  enemy  were  relieved  at  intervals  by  fresh  forces, 
and  still  had  a  superabundance  of  men.  But  we  had 
none  of  our  Spanish  force  killed  on  this  day,  although 
fifty  or  sixty  were  wounded,  and  we  continued  the  con- 
test till  night,  when  we  withdrew  wearied  into  the  gar- 
rison. 

Seeing  the  great  mischief  done  us  by  the  enemy  in 
wounding  and  slaying  our  people,  while  they  were  either 
unharmed,  or  if  .we  caused  them  any  loss,  it  was  imme- 
diately repaired  by  their  great  numbers,  we  spent  all 
that  night  and  the  next  day  in  constructing  three  engines 
of  timber,  each  of  which  would  contain  twenty  men, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  151 

covered  with  thick  plank  to  protect  them  from  the  stones 
that  were  thrown  from  the  terraces  of  houses.  The  per- 
sons to  be  conveyed  in  the  machines  were  musketeers 
and  archers,  together  with  others  provided  with  spades, 
pickaxes,  and  bars  of  iron,  to  demolish  the  barricades 
erected  in  the  streets,  and  pull  down  the  houses.  While 
we  were  building  these  machines,  the  enemy  did  not 
cease  their  attacks  ;  and  so  resolute  were  they,  that  when 
we  sallied  forth  from  our  quarters,  they  attempted  to 
enter  them,  and  we  had  trouble  enough  to  resist  their 
progress.  Muteczuma,  who  was  still  a  prisoner,  (to- 
gether with  his  son  and  many  other  persons  of  distinction, 
who  had  been  secured  at  the  beginning  of  operations,) 
now  came  forward  and  requested  to  be  taken  to  the  ter- 
race of  the  garrison,  that  he  might  speak  to  the  leaders 
of  his  people  and  induce  them  to  discontinue  the  contest. 
I  caused  him  to  be  taken  up,  and  when  he  reached  a 
battlement  projecting  from  the  fortress,  and  sought  an 
opportunity  to  address  the  people  who  were  fighting  in 
that  quarter,  a  stone  thrown  by  some  one  of  his  own 
subjects  struck  him  on  the  head  with  so  much  force  that 
he  died  in  three  days  after.  I  then  gave  his  dead  body 
to  two  Indians  who  were  amongst  the  prisoners,  and 
taking  it  upon  their  shoulders,  they  bore  it  away  to  his 
people  ;  what  afterwards  became  of  it  I  know  not.  The 
war,  however,  did  not  cease,  but  increased  in  violence 
and  desperation  every  day. 

On  the  same  day  a  cry  was  heard  in  the  quarter  where 
Muteczuma  had  been  wounded,  some  of  the  enemy 
calling  to  me  to  approach  there,  as  certain  of  their  cap- 
tains wished  to  confer  with  me.  I  accordingly  did  so, 
and  we  passed  amongst  them  ;  when  after  a  long  parley 
I  asked  them  to  discontinue  their  attacks,  since  they  had 


152  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

no  good  reason  for  it,  having  received  many  benefits  from 
me,  and  having  always  been  treated  well.  Their  answer 
was,  that  I  must  depart  and  leave  the  country,  when 
the  war  would  immediately  cease;  otherwise  they  were 
all  resolved  to  die,  or  to  destroy  us.  This  they  did,  as 
it  appeared,  to  induce  me  to  leave  the  fortress,  that  they 
might  cut  us  off  at  pleasure  on  our  departure  from  the 
city,  when  we  were  between  the  bridges.  I  answered 
them  that  they  need  not  suppose  I  asked  for  peace 
from  fear,  but  that  I  was  pained  to  be  under  the  ne- 
cessity of  injuring  them,  and  destroying  so  fine  a  city  as 
theirs.  They  replied  that  they  should  not  cease  their 
attacks  until  I  departed  from  the  city. 

After  the  engines  were  completed,  immediately  on  the 
following  day,  I  sallied  forth  to  gain  possession  of  certain 
terraces  and  bridges ;  and  placing  the  engines  in  front 
they  were  followed  by  four  pieces  of  artillery,  with  many 
bowmen  and  shield  bearers,  and  more  than  three  thou- 
sand native  Tlascalans,  who  had  come  with  me  as  aux- 
iliaries, subordinate  to  the  Spanish  troops.  Having 
reached  a  bridge,  we  brought  the  engines  near  to  the 
walls  of  the  terraces,  together  with  scaling  ladders,  by 
means  of  which  we  ascended  them.  But  the  multitude 
of  people  was  so  great  that  defended  the  bridge  and  the 
terraces,  and  such  showers  of  heavy  stones  were  thrown 
from  above,  that  the  movements  of  the  engines  were  dis- 
concerted, and  a  Spaniard  killed  and  many  others 
wounded,  without  our  being  able  to  make  any  progress, 
although  we  struggled  hard  for  it,  and  fought  from  morn- 
ing till  mid-day,  when  we  returned  sad  enough  to  our 
quarters. 

The  enemy  were  so  much  encouraged  by  this  unsuc- 
cessful movement  on  our  part,  that  they  advanced  almost 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  153 

to  our  doors,  and  took  possession  of  the  great  temple, 
to  the  loftiest  and  most  considerable  tower   of  which 
nearly  five  hundred  Indians,  apparently  persons  of  rank, 
ascended,  taking  with  them  a  large  supply  of  bread, 
water  and  other  provisions,  and  a  great  quantity  of  stones. 
Most  of  them  were  armed  with  lances  of  large  size, 
having  points  formed  of  flint,  broader  and  not  less  sharp 
than  ours  ;  and  from  this  position  they  did  much  mischief 
to  the  people  in  the  garrison,  as  it  was  very  near.     The 
Spanish  soldiers  attacked  this  tower  two  or  three  times, 
and  attempted  to  ascend  it ;    but    it  was  very    lofty, 
and  the  passage  up  difficult  on  account  of  its  having 
more  than  a  hundred  steps,  and  those  above  were  well 
supplied  with  stones   and  other  means  of  defence,  and 
favored  by  our  not  having  succeeded  in  gaining  posses- 
sion of  the  neighboring  terraces  ;  in  consequence  of  these 
circumstances,  every  time  our  soldiers  attempted  the 
ascent,  they  came  rolling  down,  many  of  them  severely 
wounded,  and  the  other  portions  of  the  enemy's  force 
seeing  this,  took  courage  and  penetrated  to  the  very  gar- 
rison without  fear.     Being  sensible  that  if  they  continued 
their  assaults  while  in  possession  of  the  tower,  besides 
doing  us  much  harm,  they  would  be  encouraged  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  war,  I  sallied  forth  from  the  garri- 
son,   although  lame   in   my  left   hand  from   a  wound 
I  had  received  in  the  engagement  on   the    first  day ; 
and  having  tied  a  skield  to  my  arm,  I  advanced  to  the 
tower,  attended  by  a  number  of  Spanish  soldiers,  and 
caused  it  to  be  surrounded  at  its  base  by  a  sufficient 
number  of  men,  as  was  quite  practicable.     This  pre- 
caution was  not  a  useless  one,  as  the  troops  stationed 
around  the  tower  were  attacked  on  all  sides  by  the  ene- 
my, who  increased  in  numbers  to  favor  those  within  j  in 


154  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

the  mean  time  I  began  to  ascend  the  stairs,  followed  by 
certain  Spaniards.  While  they  who  were  above  dis- 
puted the  ascent  with  great  courage,  and  even  over- 
turned three  or  four  of  my  followers,  by  the  aid  of  God 
and  his  glorious  Mother,  for  whose  house  this  tower  had 
been  designated,  and  whose  image  had  been  placed  in 
it,  we  succeeded  in  ascending,  and  engaged  with  the 
enemy  on  the  upper  area,  until  I  compelled  them  to  leap 
down  to  a  lower  terrace  that  surrounded  it,  one  pace  in 
width.  Of  these  terraces  the  tower  had  three  or  four, 
about  sixteen  feet  one  above  the  other.  Some  of  the 
enemy  fell  to  the  very  bottom,  who,  besides  the  injury 
received  from  the  fall,  were  slain  by  the  Spanish  soldiers 
stationed  around  the  base.  Those  who  remained  on  the 
upper  terraces  fought  so  desperately  that  we  were  more 
than  three  hours  engaged  with  them  before  they  were  all 
despatched ;  thus  all  perished,  not  one  escaping.  And 
your  sacred  Majesty  may  be  assured,  that  so  arduous 
was  the  attempt  to  take  this  tower,  that  if  God  had  not 
broken  their  spirits,  twenty  of  them  would  have  been 
sufficient  to  resist  the  ascent  of  a  thousand  men,  although 
they  fought  with  the  greatest  valor,  even  unto  death. 
I  caused  this  tower  and  the  others  within  the  temple  to 
be  burned,  from  which  they  had  removed  the  images  we 
had  placed  in  them. 

The  fierceness  of  the  enemy  was  somewhat  abated  by 
the  capture  of  this  position ;  and  while  they  relaxed  their 
exertions  throughout  the  city  to  a  considerable  degree, 
I  directed  my  attention  to  the  neighboring  terrace,  and 
called  to  the  chiefs  who  had  before  conferred  with  me, 
but  were  now  somewhat  dismayed  by  what  they  had 
witnessed.  They  immediately  appeared,  when  I  said 
to  them  that  they  saw  their  inability  to  maintain  their 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  155 

ground  ;  that  we  should  every  day  do  them  much  in- 
jury, destroy  many  lives,  burn  and  lay  waste  the  city  ; 
and  that  we  should  persevere  until  nothing  was  left  of  it 
or  them.  They  answered,  that  they  were  well  aware 
much  harm  would  befal  them,  and  that  many  of  them 
would  lose  their  lives ;  but  that  they  were  still  deter- 
mined to  make  an  end  of  us,  even  if  they  should  all 
perish  in  the  attempt ;  that  I  might  see  how  the  streets, 
public  squares  and  terraces  were  filled  with  people,  who 
were  so  numerous  that  they  had  made  a  calculation  that 
if  twenty-five  thousand  of  them  should  fall  to  one  of  ours, 
we  would  be  first  exterminated,  so  small  was  our  num- 
ber compared  with  theirs ;  that  all  the  causeways  leading 
into  the  city  had  been  destroyed,  (which  was  so  far  true 
that  only  one  of  them  remained,)  and  thus  we  had  no 
way  of  escape  but  by  water ;  that  they  knew  well  we 
had  few  provisions  and  but  little  fresh  water,  and 
that  ere  long  we  should  perish  with  hunger,  even  if  they 
did  not  kill  us.  They  were,  indeed,  quite  right,  in  say- 
ing that  had  we  nothing  else  to  contend  with,  hunger  and 
want  would  soon  put  an  end  to  our  lives.  We  exchanged 
many  other  words,  each  party  sustaining  his  own  side. 
As  soon  as  it  was  dark,  I  sallied  forth  with  a  number  of 
Spaniards,  and  as  I  found  the  people  were  taken  by  sur- 
prise, we  obtained  possession  of  one  street,  in  which  we 
burned  more  than  three  hundred  houses.  While  the 
enemy  were  assembling  in  that  quarter  in  its  defence,  I 
speedily  turned  into  another  street,  where  I  also  burned 
several  houses,  especially  certain  terraces  that  adjoined 
our  quarters,  from  which  we  had  experienced  much  an- 
noyance. Thus  the  events  of  that  night  struck  great 
terror  into  the  enemy;  and  during  the  same  night  I 
caused  the  engines  that  had  created  confusion  in  our 


156  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

ranks  the  day  before,  to  be  repaired  and  got  in  readi- 
ness. 

In  order  to  follow  up  the  victory  God  had  granted  us, 
I  sallied  forth  at  break  of  day  into  the  same  street  where 
they  had  routed  us  the  day  before,  and  I  found  the  ene- 
my not  less  prepared  for  defence  than  they  were  on  the 
former  occasion.  But  as  our  lives  and  honor  were  now 
at  stake,  and  as  that  street  led  to  a  causeway  that  re- 
mained unbroken,*  extending  to  the  main  land,  although 
interrupted  by  eight  bridges  very  large  and  high,  and 
the  street  itself  was  filled  with  lofty  terraces  and  towers  ; 
we  put  forth  so  much  resolution  and  spirit,  that,  with  the 
aid  of  our  Lord,  we  secured  that  day  four  of  the  bridges, 
and  burned  all  of  the  terraces,  houses  and  towers,  as  far 
as  the  last  of  these  bridges.  They  had  erected  during 
the  previous  night,  on  all  the  bridges,  many  strong- 
breastworks  of  unburnt  bricks  and  clay,  so  that  neither 
the  guns  nor  the  crossbows  made  any  impression  on 
them.  We  filled  up  the  space  occupied  by  the  four 
bridges  with  the  unburnt  bricks  and  the  earth  from  the 
breastworks,  together  with  a  great  quantity  of  stones  and 
timber  from  the  burnt  houses,  although  this  was  not 
effected  without  danger,  and  many  Spaniards  were 
wounded.  The  same  night  I  used  much  precaution  in 
guarding  the  bridges,  lest  the  enemy  should  succeed  in 
recovering  them. 

The  next  day  in  the  morning,  I  made  another  sally 
from  our  quarters,  and  God  gave  us  again  success  and 
victory,  although  the  enemy  appeared  in  great  numbers, 
and  defended  the  bridges,  protected  by  strong  entrench- 
ments and  ditches  which  they  had  formed  during  the 

*  This  is  the  street  to  Tacuba,  now  a  village  on  solid  ground,  which  was  then 
covered  entirely  by  the  lakes. 


CONQUEST   OF    MEXICO.  157 

night ;  we  took  them  all,  and  covered  them  up ;  and 
some  of  our  horsemen  followed  at  the  heels  of  the  fu^i- 
tives  in  the  heat  of  victory,  and  pursued  them  to  the 
main  land.  While  I  was  employed  in  repairing  the 
bridges  and  [filling  them  up,  messengers  came  to  me  in 
great  haste,  reporting  that  the  enemy  had  attacked  the 
garrison,  and  at  the  same  time  had  sued  for  peace,  seve- 
ral of  their  leaders  being  in  waiting  to  see  me.  I  imme- 
diately went  with  two  horsemen  to  see  what  they  wanted. 
These  men  assured  me  that  if  I  would  engage  not  to 
punish  them  for  what  they  had  done,  they  would  raise 
the  blockade,  replace  the  bridges  that  had  been  de- 
stroyed, and  restore  the  causeways,  and  that  hereafter 
they  would  serve  your  Majesty  as  they  had  before  done. 
They  also  requested  that  I  would  bring  them  a  priest  of 
theirs  whom  I  had  taken  prisoner,  who  was,  as  it  were, 
the  commander-in-chief  of  their  religion.  He  came  and 
addressed  them,  and  brought  about  an  arrangement  be- 
tween me  and  them ;  and  it  appeared  that  they  imme- 
diately despatched  messengers  to  inform  the  captains 
and  the  people  who  were  in  the  camp,  that  the  attacks 
on  the  garrison  and  all  other  offensive  operations  should 
cease.  Upon  this  being  done  we  took  leave  of  them,  and 
I  went  to  the  garrison  to  procure  some  food. 

While  I  was  beginning  to  take  some  refreshment,  in- 
formation was  brought  me  in  sreat  haste,  that  the  In- 
dians  had  attacked  the  bridges  which  we  had  taken  the 
same  day,  and  had  killed  certain  Spaniards.  God  only 
knows  with  what  feelings  I  received  this  intelligence,, 
since  I  had  thought  that  we  had  nothing  more  to  trouble 
us  after  having  gained  the  possession  of  the  avenue 
leading  out  of  the  city.  I  mounted  in  the  greatest  pos- 
sible haste,  and  galloped  the  whole  length  of  the  streets 

21 


158  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

followed  by  a  few  horsemen ;  and  without  stopping  a 
moment  I  dashed  in  amongst  the  Indians,  put  them  to 
flight  whilst  I  regained  the  bridges,  and  pursued  them 
to  the  main  land.  As  the  infantry  were  wearied,  wounded 
and  panic-struck,  they  did  not  follow  me,  and  I  saw  the 
dangerous  situation  in  which  I  was  placed  from  being 
unsupported  by  them.  On  this  account  after  having 
passed  the  bridges,  when  I  sought  to  return  I  found  them 
in  possession  of  the  enemy,  and  sunk  to  a  great  depth 
where  we  had  filled  them  up  ;  and  both  sides  of  the 
causeway  were  covered  with  people,  on  the  land  and 
water,  who  galled  us  with  stones  and  arrows  to  such  a 
degree,  that  if  God  had  not  been  pleased  to  interpose 
mysteriously  in  our  behalf,  it  would  have  been  impos- 
sible for  us  to  escape  thence ;  and,  indeed,  it  was  rumored 
amongst  the  people  in  the  city  that  I  was  dead.  When 
I  reached  the  last  bridge  next  the  city,  I  found  all  the 
cavalry  that  had  accompanied  me  fallen  in,  and  one 
horse  without  a  rider ;  and  as  in  this  situation  I  could 
not  pass,  I  rushed  alone  against  the  enemy,  and  thus 
opened  a  passage  by  which  the  horsemen  could  extricate 
themselves.  After  this  I  found  the  bridge  free,  and 
passed  over,  although  with  some  trouble,  as  I  had  to  leap 
my  horse,  in  one  place,  nearly  six  feet  from  one  side  to 
the  other ;  but  as  I  and  my  horse  were  well  protected  by 
armor,  the  enemy  did  us  no  harm  more  than  to  cause 
our  bodies  a  little  pain. 

Thus  the  enemy  that  night  came  off  victorious,  having 
regained  possession  of  four  of  the  bridges.  The  other 
four  I  left  well  guarded,  and  returned  to  the  garrison, 
where  I  constructed  a  bridge  of  timber  that  could  be 
carried  by  forty  men.  Seeing  the  dangerous  situation  in 
which  we  were  now  placed,  and  the  very  serious  injury 
that  the  Indians  were  doing  us  every  day ;  and  fearing 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXTCO.  159 

that  they  would  also  destroy  the  remaining  causeway, 
as  they  had  done  the  others,  and  when  that  was  effected 
death  would  be  our  inevitable  fate ;  and  moreover,  hav- 
ing been  often  entreated  by  all  my  companions  to  abandon 
the  place,  the  greater  part  of  whom  were  so  badly 
wounded  as  to  be  disabled  from  fighting,  I  determined 
to  quit  the  city  that  night.  I  took  all  the  gold  and  jew- 
els belonging  to  your  Majesty  that  could  be  removed, 
and  placed  them  in  one  apartment,  where  I  delivered  it 
in  parcels  to  the  officers  of  your  Highness,  whom  I  had 
designated  for  this  purpose  in  the  royal  name ;  and  I 
begged  and  desired  the  alcaldes,  regidores,  and  all  the 
people,  to  aid  me  in  removing  and  preserving  this  trea- 
sure ;  I  gave  up  my  mare  to  carry  as  much  as  she  could 
bear ;  and  I  selected  certain  Spaniards,  as  well  my  own 
servants  as  others,  to  accompany  the  gold  and  the  mare, 
and  the  rest  the  magistrates  above  mentioned  and  my- 
self distributed  amongst  the  Spaniards,  to  be  borne  by 
them.  Abandoning  the  garrison,  together  with  much 
wealth  belonging  to  your  Highness,  the  Spaniards  and 
myself,  I  went  forth  as  secretly  as  possible,  taking  with 
me  a  son  and  two  daughters  of  Muteczuma  and  Caca- 
macin,  cacique  of  Aculuacan,  with  his  brother,  whom  I 
had  appointed  in  his  place,  and  several  other  governors 
of  provinces  and  cities  that  I  had  taken  prisoners. 

Arriving  at  the  bridges,  (now  broken  up,)  which  the 
Indians  had  left,  the  bridge  that  I  carried  was  thrown 
over  where  the  first  of  them  had  been,  without  much 
difficulty,  as  there  was  none  to  offer  resistance,  except 
some  watchmen  who  were  stationed  there,  and  who  ut- 
tered so  loud  cries  that  before  we  had  arrived  at  the 
second  an  immense  multitude  of  the  enemy  assailed  us, 
fio-hting  in  every  direction,  both  by  land    and   water. 


160  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

I  sallied  across  with  great  speed,  followed  by  five 
horsemen  and  a  hundred  foot,  with  whom  I  passed  all 
the  (broken)  bridges  swimming,  and  reached  the  main 
land.  Leaving  the  people  who  formed  this  advance 
party,  I  returned  to  the  rear,  where  I  found  the  troops 
hotly  engaged ;  it  is  incalculable  how  much  our  people 
suffered,  as  well  Spaniards  as  our  Indian  allies  of  Tas- 
caltecal,  nearly  all  of  whom  perished,  together  with  many 
native  Spaniards  and  horses,  besides,  the  loss  of  the  gold, 
jewels,  cotton  cloth,  and  many  other  things  we  had  brought 
away,  including  the  artillery.  Having  collected  all  that 
were  alive,  I  sent  them  on  before,  while  with  three  or 
four  horse  and  about  twenty  foot  that  dared  to  remain 
with  me,  I  followed  in  the  rear,  incessantly  engaged  with 
the  Indians,  until  we  at  length  reached  a  city  called 
Tacuba,  [Tlacopan,]  beyond  the  causeway,  after  en- 
countering a  degree  of  toil  and  danger,  the  extent  of 
which  God  only  knows.  As  often  as  I  turned  against 
the  enemy,  I  met  a  shower  of  arrows  and  darts  and 
stones,  and  there  being  water  on  both  sides,  they  as- 
sailed us  without  exposing  themselves,  and  without  fear ; 
for  when  we  attacked  them  on  the  causeway,  they  im- 
mediately leapt  into  the  water,  receiving  little  hurt,  ex- 
cept some  few,  who,  when  the  multitude  was  so  great 
as  to  trample  upon  one  another,  fell  and  perished.  Thus 
with  great  labor  and  fatigue  I  brought  off  all  this  portion 
of  our  force  without  any  of  the  Spaniards  or  Indians  be- 
ing wounded  or  slain,  except  one  of  the  horse  that  had 
gone  with  me  to  the  rear,  where  they  fought  with  no  less 
fury  than  in  front  or  on  the  flanks,  although  the  hottest 
part  of  the  fight  was  in  the  extreme  rear,  where  our 
men  were  constantly  exposed  to  fresh  attacks  from  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  161 

Having  reached  the  city  of  Tacuba,  I  found  all  our 
people  gathered  together  in  the  square,  not  knowing  where 
to  go ;  I  gave  immediate  directions  to  march  into  the  coun- 
try, before  the  inhabitants  should  collect  in  greater  num- 
bers in  the  city,  and  that  they  should  take  possession  of  the 
terraces,  as  the  enemy  would  be  likely  to  do  us  much 
injury  from  them.  Those  who  had  led  the  van  saying, 
that  they  knew  not  in  which  direction  to  leave  the  city, 
I  bade  them  remain  with  the  rear,  while  I  took  command 
of  the  van  until  I  had  led  them  out  into  the  open  fields, 
where  I  waited  till  the  rest  came  up.  When  the  rear 
arrived,  I  saw  that  they  had  suffered  some  loss,  and  that 
some  of  the  Spaniards  and  Indians  had  fallen,  and  that 
they  had  left  on  the  road  much  gold  which  the  Indians 
had  seized.  I  remained  there  until  all  our  people  had 
arrived,  closely  pursued  by  the  enemy.  I  kept  the  enemy 
at  bay  until  the  infantry  had  taken  possession  of  a  hill  on 
which  there  was  a  tower  with  a  strong  building,  which 
they  took  without  suffering  any  loss,  and  I  maintained 
my  position,  not  suffering  the  enemy  to  advance,  until 
the  hill  was  taken  ;*  and  God  only  knows  the,  toil  and  fa- 
tigue with  which  it  was  accomplished  ;  for  of  twenty-four 
horses  that  remained  to  us,  there  was  not  one  that  could 
move  briskly,  nor  a  horseman  able  to  raise  his  arm,  nor  a 
foot  soldier  unhurt  who  could  make  any  effort.  When 
we  had  reached  the  building,  we  fortified  ourselves  in  it ; 
and  the  enemy  invested  it,  remaining  till  night  without 
allowing  us  an  hour  of  rest. 

In  this  defeat  it  was  ascertained  that  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Spaniards  lost  their  lives,  together  with  forty-five 

*  Called  the  hill  of  Muteczuma,  on  which  is  now  the  celebrated  sanctuary  of 
Our  Lady  de  los  Remedios. — L.  (See  Madame  Calderon's  Life  in  Mexico, 
vol.  1,  p.  226.) 


162  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

mares  and  horses,  and  more  than  two  thousand  Indians, 
our  auxiliaries ;  amongst  the  latter  were  the  son  and 
daughters  of  Muteczuma,  and  the  other  caciques  whom 
we  had  taken  prisoners.  The  same  night*  about  mid- 
night, thinking  that  we  were  not  perceived,  we  sallied 
forth  from  the  building  very  secretly,  leaving  in  it  many 
lighted  fires,  without  knowing  our  route,  nor  where  to  go, 
except  that  one  of  the  Tascaltecalf  Indians  who  guided 
us,  promised  to  lead  us  to  his  country,  if  the  enemy  did 
not  embarrass  the  route.  But  guards  had  been  stationed 
around  who  noticed  our  movements,  and  gave  the  alarm 
to  the  multitudes  of  people  dwelling  in  that  vicinity,  of 
whom  great  numbers  were  collected,  who  pursued  us 
until  day-light,  when  five  horsemen  who  went  before  as 
runners  attacked  some  squadrons  of  people  on  the  road, 
and  killed  a  number  of  them ;  these  fled,  supposing  that 
there  was  a  greater  number  of  horse  and  foot  than  ap- 
peared. When  I  saw  that  the  number  of  the  enemy  was 
increasing  on  all  sides,  I  made  a  disposition  of  our  force, 
and  out  of  those  remaining  unhurt  I  formed  squadrons, 
and  placed  them  in  front  and  rear,  and  on  the  flanks ;  I 
put  the  wounded  in  the  centre ;  and  I  also  arranged  the 
position  of  the  horse.  During  the  whole  of  that  day  we 
were  engaged  in  fighting  in  every  direction,  so  that  du- 
ring the  whole  night  and  day  we  did  not  advance  more 
than  three  leagues.  It  pleased  our  Lord  when  the  night 
came  to  show  us  a  tower  and  a  good  house  on  a  hill, 
where  we  entrenched  ourselves ;  and  that  night  the  ene- 
left  us  undisturbed,  except  that  near  the  dawn  of  day 
there  was  a  sudden  alarm  that  only  sprung  from  the 

*  This  is  still  called  la  noclie  triste,  the  sorrowful  night. 

t  It  might  better  have  been  supposed  to  be  a  guardian  angel,  either  St  Peter, 
as  some  have  imagined,  or  St.  James  the  Apostle,  as  in  the  battle  of  las  Navas 
de  Tolosa,  in  the  form  of  a  shepherd. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  163 

constant  apprehension  we  all  had  of  the  multitude  of 
people  that  was  continually  at  our  heels. 

The  next  day  I  set  out  at  one  o'clock  in  the  order  re- 
ferred to,  watching  with  great  caution  my  front  and  rear, 
and  the  enemy  constantly  followed  us  on  both  sides  of 
our  route,  uttering  loud  cries  and  calling  upon  the  people 
of  all  that  region,  which  is  very  populous.  Our  cavalry, 
although  few  in  number,  attacked  them,  but  did  them 
little  harm,  since,  as  the  country  was  rough  and  uneven, 
they  betook  themselves  to  the  hills  for  refuge.  In  this 
manner  we  marched  that  day  around  several  lakes,*  until 
we  arrived  at  a  populous  place  where  we  expected  to 
have  a  collision  with  the  people  of  the  town ;  but  when 
we  reached  it,  we  found  it  deserted,  and  the  people  fled 
to  other  places  in  the  neighborhood.  I  remained  there 
that  day  and  the  next,  as  our  people,  both  the  wounded 
and  those  unhurt,  were  extremely  wearied  and  exhausted 
with  hunger  and  thirst ;  and  the  horses  were  also  in  the 
same  condition ;  we  found  there  a  quantity  of  maize, 
which  we  eat,  and  took  supplies  of  it,  both  boiled  and 
roasted,  for  our  march.  The  next  day  we  resumed  our 
route,  still  pursued  by  the  enemy,  who  annoyed  us  in 
front  and  rear,  uttering  loud  cries  and  making  slight 
attacks  on  the  way.  We  continued  our  course,  following 
the  guidance  of  the  Indian  of  Tascaltecal ;  in  the  course 
of  which  we  were  compelled  to  endure  much  toil  and  fa- 
tigue, as  we  often  lost  our  way ;  and  it  was  already  even- 
ing when  we  arrived  at  a  plain  where  were  several  small 
houses,  in  which  we  lodged  with  little  enough  to  eat. 
The  next  day  we  resumed  our  march,  starting  at  an 
early  hour  of  the  morning,  with  the  enemy  still  hanging 
upon  our  rear ;  after  some  skirmishing,  we  arrived  at  a 

*  These  small  lakes  are  Zumpango,  Jaltoean,  and  San  Cristobal. — L, 


164  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

considerable  town  two  leagues  distant,  on  the  right  of 
which  there  were  a  number  of  Indians,  posted  on  the 
summit  of  a  small  hill.  Thinking  to  take  them  prison- 
ers, as  they  were  very  near  the  road,  and  also  to  discover 
if  there  were  any  more  people  behind  the  hill,  I  proceeded 
with  five  horse  and  ten  or  twelve  foot  to  attack  them. 
We  discovered  that  in  the  rear  of  the  hill  there  was  a 
large  city  with  many  inhabitants,  with  whom  we'  en- 
gaged, until  finding  the  ground  somewhat  rough  and 
rocky,  and  the  enemy  numerous,  while  our  own  force 
was  small,  we  were  compelled  to  fall  back  on  the  town, 
where  the  army  was  left  encamped.  On  this  occasion  I 
was  badly  wounded  in  the  head  by  two  stones ;  and  after 
my  wounds  had  been  dressed,  I  gave  orders  to  leave  the 
place,  as  it  did  not  appear  to  be  a  safe  position.  Resu- 
ming our  route,  we  were  still  followed  by  Indians  in  con- 
siderable numbers,  who  attacked  our  troops  with  such 
vigor  as  to  wound  four  or  five  Spaniards,  and  as  many 
horses  ;  one  horse  was  killed,  and  God  only  knows  how 
great  a  loss  it  was  to  us,  and  how  much  sorrow  his  death 
occasioned  in  our  ranks,  as  next  to  God  our  greatest 
security  was  in  our  horses.  We  derived  some  consolation 
from  the  flesh  of  this  animal,  which  we  eat,  not  leaving 
even  his  skin,  or  any  other  part  of  him,  so  great  were  our 
necessities  ;  for  since  our  departure  from  the  great  city 
we  had  eaten  nothing  but  maize,  boiled  and  roasted ;  and 
even  this  we  were  not  always  fully  supplied  with,  being 
compelled  to  subsist  in  part  on  wild  plants. 

Seeing  that  every  day  the  enemy  increased;  in  numbers 
and  vigor,  while  we  were  becoming  enfeebled,  I  that  night 
caused  the  wounded  and  infirm,  whom  we  had  so  far  car- 
ried on  the  backs  and  shoulders  of  the  horses,  to  provide 
themselves  with  crutches  and  other  means  of  assistance, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  165 

so  that  they  might  be  able  to  have  support  in  walking,  and 
the  horses  and  Spanish  soldiers  be  left  free  to  fight  the  ene- 
my. And  it  seemed  as  if  the  Holy  Ghost  had  enlightened 
my  mind  to  adopt  this  precaution,  from  what  occurred  on 
the  following  day  ;*  since,  having  left  our  quarters  in  the 
morning,  and  advanced  a  league  and  a  half  on  our 
way,  we  encountered  so  great  a  multitude  of  Indians 
that  they  completely  covered  the  ground  in  front  and 
rear,  and  on  our  flanks,  not  leaving  a  single  spot  unoc- 
cupied. They  attacked  us  with  such  violence  on  all 
sides,  that  they  became  mingled  with  our  own  people, 
and  it  was  difficult  for  us  to  distinguish  them  from  our 
allies.  We  thought  it  certain  that  our  last  day  was  come, 
so  great  was  the  force  of  the  enemy  and  so  feeble  our 
own,  exhausted  as  we  were  by  fatigue,  and  reduced  by 
hunger,  and  nearly  all  of  us  suffering  from  wounds.  But 
it  pleased  the  Lord  to  show  his  great  power  and  mercy 
towards  us,  so  that  we  were  enabled  to  humble  the  pride 
and  arrogance  of  our  enemies,  great  numbers  of  whom 
perished,  including  some  of  their  most  distinguished  men 
and  principal  leaders  ;  for  the  multitude  of  them  was  so 
great  that  they  were  in  each  other's  way,  and  unable 
either  to  fight  or  to  fly.  We  were  engaged  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  day,  until  it  pleased  God  that  one 
should  fall  who  must  have  been  a  leading  personage 
amongst  them,  as  at  his  death  the  battle  ceased.  After 
this  we  were  somewhat  relieved,  although  still  suffering 
from  hunger,  until  we  reached  a  small  house  on  a  plain, 
in  which  and  the  fields  we  lodged  that  night.     From  this 

*  This  is  right,  as  God  alone  could  have  performed  such  miracles ;  and  this 
ought  to  cover  with  confusion  those  who  detract  from  the  merit  of  the  conquest. 
Cortes  was  another  Moses  when  he  said,  "  The  Lord  will  fight  for  us  ;"  Exod. 
14. — L.  The  reader  will  not,  we  hope,  be  displeased  by  these  characteristic  ex- 
pressions of  the  pious  archbishop. 

22 

c 


166  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

spot  were  descried  certain  mountains  of  the  province  of 
Tascaltecal,*  which  produced  not  a  little  joy  in  our 
hearts  ;  since  we  recognized  the  land  and  knew  it  was  the 
country  where  we  were  going.  We  were,  however,  not 
sure  of  finding  the  inhabitants  of  that  province  secure 
and  friendly ;  thinking  it  possible  that  on  seeing  us  so 
reduced,  they  might  desire  to  put  an  end  to  our  lives,  in 
order  to  recover  the  liberty  they  had  before  enjoyed. 
This  idea  with  our  suspicions  gave  us  as  much  uneasi- 
ness as  we  should  have  felt  in  renewing  our  contests 
with  the  Culuans. 

The  following  day,  as  soon  as  it  was  light,  we  resumed 
our  march  over  a  very  level  road,  which  led  directly  to 
the  province  of  Tascaltecal ;  a  few  only  of  the  enemy 
followed  us,  although  the  country  around  was  very 
populous,  and  we  were  still  saluted  with  a  hooting  noise 
from  the  hills  at  some  distance  in  our  rear.  On  that  day, 
which  was  Saturday,  the  Sth  of  July,  [1520,]  we  passed 
out  of  the  territory  of  Culua,  and  entered  that  of  the 
province  of  Tascaltecal,  at  a  place  called  Gualipan,f 
containing  three  or  four  thousand  families,  where  we 
were  well  received  by  the  inhabitants,  and  somewhat 
refreshed  with  food  and  rest,  although  compelled  to  pay 
for  the  provisions  they  supplied  us  with,  and  they  would 
take  nothing  but  gold  in  payment,  which  in  our  great 
necessities  we  were  forced  to  give.  I  remained  in  that 
town  three  days,  during  which  time  Magiscacin  and  Si- 
cutengal,  together  with  all  the  other  nobles  of  that  pro- 
vince, and  some  from  Guazucingo,  came  to  see  and  confer 

*  The  villages  and  fields  where  these  battles  were  fought  were  before  arriving 
at  Puebla,  and  between  Otumba  and  that  city  ;  and  there  can  be  seen  the  Sierra 
of  Tlascala. — L. 

t  Hueyotlipan,  in  the  seignory  or  republic  of  Tlascala. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  167 

with  us ;  all  of  whom  discovered  much  grief  at  what 
had  befallen  us,  and  endeavored  to  console  me,*  saying 
that  they  had  often  told  me  the  people  of  Culua  were 
traitors,  and  that  I  should  be  on  my  guard  against  them, 
not  trusting  their  professions  ;  that  I  ought  to  rejoice  in 
having  escaped  with  life  ;  and  that  they  would  assist  me 
to  the  death  in  obtaining  satisfaction  for  the  wrongs  we 
had  suffered  ;  to  this  course  they  said  they  were  impelled 
not  only  by  their  allegiance  to  your  Highness,  but  also 
from  grief  for  the  loss  of  many  sons  and  brothers  who 
had  perished  in  my  service,  and  from  a  sense  of  many 
other  injuries  that  they  had  suffered  from  the  same  quarter 
in  times  past ;  and  they  assured  me  that  I  might  rely  on 
their  proving  sure  and  fast  friends  to  me  until  death. 
They  added,  that  since  I  had  returned  wounded,  and  all 
my  company  were  worn  down  with  toil,  we  should  go  to 
a  city  four  leagues  from  this  town,  where  we  might  obtain 
repose,  and  they  would  strive  to  cure  our  wounds  and 
recover  us  from  the  effects  of  our  fatigue  and  exhaustion. 
I  expressed  myself  pleased  with  their  offer  and  ac- 
cepted it,  making  them  presents  of  some  little  jewels  that 
we  had  saved,  with  which  they  were  well  satisfied  ;  and 
I  accompanied  them  to  the  city,  where  we  found  a  good 
reception.  Magiscacin  brought  me  a  bed  encased  in 
wood,  together  with  some  cotton  cloth  for  me  to  sleep  on, 
as  we  had  brought  none,  and  he  did  all  in  his  power  with 
the  means  he  possessed  to  repair  all  our  losses.  I  had 
left  in  this  city,  when  on  my  march  to  Temixtitan,  several 
sick  persons  and  some  of  my  servants,  with  silver,  cotton 
clothing,  and  other  domestic  articles,  including  provisions, 

*  This  proof  of  fidelity  and  a  sense  of  honor  in  these  states  is  worthy  of  praise, 
especially  considering  the  situation  of  Cortes,  himself  wounded,  his  men  dis- 
comfited, poor,  and  perishing  with  hunger. — L, 


168  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

(which  I  then  had  with  me,)  in  order  to  be  less  encum- 
bered on  my  march,  if  any  obstacles  should  present  them- 
selves, and  my  papers,  including  the  treaties  that  I  had 
made  with  the  natives  of  these  parts,  should  be  lost ;  I 
had  left  also  the  clothing  of  the  Spaniards  who  accom- 
panied me  except  what  they  required   for  use,  together 
with  their  bedding.     I  was  informed  that  another  servant 
of  mine  had  come  to  this  place  from  the  town  of  Vera 
Cruz,  who  brought  provisions  and  other  things  for  me, 
attended  by  five  horse,  and  forty -five  foot,  and  had  taken 
away  the  persons  I  had  left  there,  together  with  all  the 
silver,  clothing,  and  other  things,  both  belonging  to  me 
and  my  companions,  including  70,000  pesos  of  molten 
gold,  which  I  had  left  there  in  two  chests,  besides  other 
jewels,  and  more  than  14,000  pesos  of  gold  in  pieces, 
which  had  been  presented  to  a  certain  captain  in  the 
province  of  Tuchitebequa,  whom  I  had  sent  to  establish 
the  town  of  Cuacifcalco,  together  with  many  other  things, 
of  the  value  of  more  than  30,000  pesos  of  gold  ;  and 
that  the  Indians  of  Culua  had  killed  them  all  on  the  road, 
and  taken  away  their  treasures.     I  was  also  informed 
that  many  other  Spaniards  had  been  destroyed  by  the 
same  people,  while  on  their  way  to  the  city  of  Temixtitan, 
supposing  that  I  was  in  peaceable  possession  of  the  city, 
and  that  the  roads  were  secure,  as  I  had  before  found 
them.     On  the  receipt  of  this  intelligence  I  assure  your 
Majesty  that  we  were  all  filled  with  sorrow,  as  great  as 
can  be  conceived  ;  since  besides  the  loss  of  the  Spaniards 
and  of  the  treasure,  it  brought  fresh  to  our  minds  the 
death  and  loss  of  those  of  our  countrymen  who  had 
perished  in  the  city  at  the  bridges  and  on  the  road  ;  and 
especially  it  excited  our  suspicions  as  to  the  fate  of 
the  people  left  in  the  town  of  Vera  Cruz,  lest  the  peo- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  169 

pie  who  had  been  friendly,  on  hearing  of  our  discom- 
fiture, had  broken  into  rebellion.  In  order  to  ascertain  the 
truth,  I  forthwith  despatched  messengers,  accompanied 
by  Indians  as  guides,  to  whom  I  gave  directions  to  avoid 
the  beaten  road  until  they  arrived  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  that 
they  should  inform  me  as  soon  as  possible  of  the  state 
of  things  there.  It  pleased  our  Lord  that  they  should 
find  the  Spaniards  well  and  the  natives  very  quiet  in  that 
place.  This  intelligence  made  full  amends  for  our  losses 
and  troubles  ;  although  to  our  people  there  the  news  of 
what  had  befallen  us  and  our  overthrow  was  very 
painful. 

I  remained  in  this  province  of  Tascaltecal  twenty  days, 
for  the  purpose  of  healing  my  wounds,*  which  had  grown 
much  worse,  especially  the  wound  on  my  head,  from 
want  of  attention  on  our  march ;  and  likewise  to  heal  the 
wounded  of  my  company,  some  of  whom,  however,  died 
in  consequence  both  of  their  wounds  and  excessive 
fatigue  ;  others  remained  maimed  and  lame,  from  the 
severity  of  their  wounds,  and  the  want  of  proper  atten- 
tion.    I  myself  lost  two  fingers  from  my  left  hand. 

*  Cortes  was  wounded  severely  in  the  head,  leg,  and  hand. — L. 


170  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

My  companions — -many  of  whom  having  perished,  and 
those  who  survived  being  broken  in  spirits,  wounded, 
and  disheartened  by  dangers  and  the  toils  they  had  en- 
dured, as  well  as  the  prospect  of  those  yet  to  come, 
which  seemed  to  be  near  at  hand — often  begged  me  to 
proceed  to  Vera  Cruz,  where  we  should  have  some 
strength,  before  the  natives,  now  our  friends,  should  dis- 
cover our  reduced  condition  and  weakness,  and  confede- 
rate with  our  enemies  to  deprive  us  of  the  ports  from 
which  we  might  depart,  attacking  us  on  one  side,  and 
the  people  of  Vera  Cruz  on  the  other ;  while  if  both  our 
parties  were  united,  having  ships  too  at  our  command, 
we  should  be  stronger,  and  better  able  to  defend  our- 
selves in  case  they  should  attack  us,  while  we  sent  to 
the  islands  for  aid.  But  seeing  that  to  exhibit  to  the 
natives,  especially  to  our  friends,  a  want  of  courage, 
would  be  a  more  speedy  motive  for  them  to  abandon  us 
and  take  sides  against  us  ;  feeling  also  assured  that 
fortune  always  favors  the  brave,  and  reflecting  that  we 
were  Christians,  trusting  in  the  mercy  and  goodness  of 
God,  who  would  not  suffer  us  to  lose  utterly  so  great 
and  noble  a  land,  that  had  submitted  to  your  Majesty, 
and  was  on  the  point  of  being  tranquillized  ;  and  being 
unwilling  to  relinquish  the  performance  of  so  great  a  ser- 
vice as  would  be  rendered  by  continuing  the  war  until) 
the  country  was  again  restored  to  its  former  peaceful 
condition — I  determined  by  no  means  to  go  down  to  the 
ports  on  the  seaboard,  preferring  to  encounter  every  toil 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  171 

and  danger  that  could  possibly  lie  in  our  way.  I  said 
to  them  that  I  would  not  abandon  this  land ;  for  that  it 
appeared  to  me  not  only  disgraceful  to  myself  and 
dangerous  to  all,  but  as  rank  treason  to  your  Majesty ; 
and  that  I  was  resolved  to  turn  again  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy  wherever  I  could  find  him,  and  assail  him  by 
«very  means  in  my  power. 

Accordingly,  after  having  been  twenty  days  in  this 
province,  although  not  yet  cured  of  my  wounds,  and  my 
companions  being  still  languid,  I  departed  from  it,  and 
entered  another  called  Tepeaca,  which  was  in  alliance 
with  our  enemies  of  Culua.  I  had  received  information 
of  ten  or  twelve  Spaniards  having  been  killed  in  this 
province  while  on  their  Way  from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  great 
city,  the  road  leading  through  it.  The  province  of  Te- 
peaca has  a  common  boundary  with  Tascaltecal  and 
Chururtecal,  being  of  wide  extent.  As  we  entered  the 
province,  a  large  number  of  its  people  sallied  forth  to 
meet  us,  and  vigorously  fighting  defended  the  passage 
as  much  as  was  in  their  power,  taking  their  stations  in 
strong  and  well  fortified  buildings.  But  not  to  enter 
into  particulars  of  what  occurred  during  this  campaign, 
to  avoid  prolixity,  I  will  only  say,  that  after  having  re- 
quired of  them  to  render  obedience  to  the  commands  of 
your  Majesty,  as  the'only  terms  on  which  peace  could  be 
preserved,  they  refused,  and.  we  made  war  upon  them, 
meeting  them  in  several  battles.  By  the  aid  of  God,  and 
the  royal  success  of  your  Highness,  we  constantly  de- 
feated them  with  great  slaughter,  while  throughout  the 
whole  war  they  neither  killed  nor  wounded  a  single 
Spaniard.  Although,  as  I  have  already  stated,  this  pro- 
vince is  of  great  extent,  in  twenty  days  I  reduced  many 
towns  and  a  large  population  into  subjection.     Its  nobles 


172  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

and  leading  men  have  yielded  themselves  vassals 
to  your  Majesty ;  and  I  have  besides  driven  out  of  it 
many  Culuans  who  had  come  to  aid  the  people  in  making 
war  against  us,  and  to  prevent  them  from  becoming  our 
friends,  either  by  force  or  consent.  I  have  encountered, 
however,  some  obstacles  in  conducting  this  war,  and 
even  now  it  is  not  finished,  since  there  are  some  towns 
and  people  left  to  be  reduced,  which  with  the  aid  of  our 
Lord  will  soon  become  like  the  others,  subject  to  the 
royal  dominion  of  your  Majesty. 

In  a  certain  part  of  this  province,  where  the  ten 
Spaniards  were  killed,  as  the  people  are  constantly  com- 
mitting hostilities  and  are  very  rebellious,  yielding  to 
force  of  arms  only,  I  made  a  number  of  slaves,  the  fifth 
of  whom  was  assigned  to  the  magistrates  of  your  High- 
ness. Besides  having  murdered  the  Spaniards  and 
rebelled  against  your  Majesty,  these  people  eat  human 
flesh,  a  fact  so  notorious  that  I  have  not  taken  the  trouble 
to  send  your  Majesty  any  proof  of  it.  I  was  also  led  to 
make  slaves  of  these  people  in  order  to  strike  terror  into 
the  Culuans  ;  and  because  there  are  so  many  of  that  kind 
of  people,  that  if  I  do  not  inflict  a  heavy  and  severe 
punishment  upon  them  they  will  not  reform.  In  this 
war  we  were  assisted  by  the  natives  of  the  provinces  of 
Tascaltecal,  Churultecal,  and  Guasuzingo,  where  a  con- 
firmed friendship  exists  with  us,  and  we  have  good  reason 
to  believe  that  they  will  always  prove  loyal  vassals  to 
your  Majesty. 

While  I  was  in  the  province  of  Tepeaca  carrying  on 
this  war,  I  received  letters  from  Vera  Cruz,  informing 
me  that  two  ships  of  Francisco  de  Garay  had  arrived  at 
that  port  in  distress ;  that  as  it  appeared,  he  had  sent 
more  people  to  the  great  river  of  which  I  gave  an  account 


COttCitfEST    6F    MEXICO.  173 

to'  your  Highness,  and  the  natives  had  attacked  them, 
killing  seventeen  or  eighteen  Christians  and  wounding 
many  more.  They  had  also  killed  seven  horses ;  and 
the  Spaniards  who  survived  had  swam  to  their  ships, 
having  made  their  escape  by  being  fleet  of  foot;  and 
the  captain  and  all  the  rest  had  arrived  disheartened  and 
wounded,  who  were  well  received  by  the  officer  I  had 
left  in  command  of  the  town,'  and  had  every  attention 
paid  to  their  wounds ;  but  in  order  that  they  might 
have  a  better  opportunity  of  recovering,  he  had  sent  a 
part  of  them  to  the  abode  of  a  cacique,  a  friend  of  ours, 
in  that  neighborhood,  where  they  were  well  taken  care 
of.  All  this  sad  intelligence  affected  us  in  a  similar 
manner  with  our  own  past  sufferings  ;  and  probably  this 
trouble  would  not  have  befallen  them,  had  they  come  to 
me  on  a  former  occasion,  as  I  have  already  given  your 
Majesty  an  account.  For,  as  I  was  well  informed  of 
every  thing  in  that  part  of  the  country,  they  would  have 
received  such  advice  from  me  as  to  have  prevented  what 
has  occurred ;  especially  as  the  lord  of  that  river  and 
land,  which  is  called  Panuco,  had  enrolled  himself  as 
one  of  your  Majesty's  vassals,  in  token  of  which  he  had 
sent  to  me  at  Temixtitan  certain  things  by  his  messen- 
gers, as  I  have  related.  I  have  written  to  Vera  Cruz, 
that  if  the  captain  of  Francisco  de  Garay  and  his  people 
wish  to  depart,  to  give  them  an  opportunity,  and  afford 
them  and  their  ships  in  getting  away  every  possible 
assistance. 

After  having  reduced  to  subjection  all  that  part  of  the 
province  of  Tepeaca  which  is  still  held  in  quiet  alle- 
giance to  your  Highness,  the  officials  of  your  Majesty 
and  myself  consulted  much  as  to  the  proper  mode  of 
governing  it  so  as  to  promote  the  security  of  the  province. 

23 


174  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

Seeing  that  the  natives  of  it,  after  acknowledging  them- 
selves your  Majesty's  vassals,  had  rebelled  and  put  to 
death  the  Spaniards,  and  that  they  are  situated  on  the  road 
and  pass  by  which  all  intercourse  is  carried  on  between 
the  seaports  and  the  interior  ;  and  considering  that  if  this 
province  should  be  left  to  itself,  as  before,  the  natives  of 
the  country  and  seigniory  of  Culua,  which  adjoins  them, 
would  strive  to  seduce  and  draw  them  again  into  re- 
bellion and  insurrection,  from  which  great  mischief  would 
result,  and  great  obstacles  to  the  security  of  these  parts 
and  the  service  of  your  Majesty,  that  would  put  an  end 
to  the  intercourse  above  mentioned ;  especially  since  on 
the  road  to  the  seacoast  there  are  two  mountain  passes 
which  are  rough  and  unsafe,  lying  within  this  province, 
and  easily  defended  by  the  inhabitants ;  and  as  on  this 
account,  as  well  as  for  other  reasons  and  causes  of  great 
importance,  it  appeared  to  us  that  in  order  to  avoid  these 
evils  there  ought  to  be  in  this  province  of  Tepeaca  a 
town,  situated  in  a  favorable  location,  possessing  the 
necessary  qualities  for  the  convenience  of  its  inhabitants ; 
I,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  this  design  into  effect,  in 
the  name  of  your  Majesty,  gave  to  the  proposed  town  the 
name  of  Segura  de  la  Frontera,*  and  appointed  the  al- 
caldes, regidores  and  other  officials,  conformably  to 
the  usual  custom.  And  for  the  better  security  of  the 
citizens  of  this  town  in  the  place  marked  out  by  me,  the 
materials  were  at  once  begun  to  be  collected  for  building 
a  fort,  which  exist  here  of  a  good  quality,  and  the  great- 
est possible  despatch  was  used  in  the  work. 

While  engaged  in  writing  this  relation,!  there  came  to 

*  This  place  does  not  now  retain  the  name  of  Segura,  but  the  old  one  of  Te- 
peaca.— L. 

t  This  letter  of  Cortes  was  written  at  Segura  de  la  Frontera,  at  least  the  latter 
p  art  of  it,  as  it  is  dated  there. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  175 

me  several  messengers  from  the  lord  of  a  city  five  leagues 
distant  from  this  province,  called  Guacahula,*  situated 
at  the  entrance  of  a  mountain  pass,  which  is  on  the  route 
from  thence  to  Mexico,  who  on  behalf  of  that  lord  said 
to  me,  that  several  days  since  they  would  have  come  tome 
to  render  your  Majesty  the  obedience  they  owed,  and 
to  offer  themselves  as  vassals ;  that  I  must  not  blame 
them  by  supposing  that  the  failure  was  with  their  consent ; 
but  they  would  inform  me  that  several  Culuan  chiefs 
were  lodged  in  their  city  ;  and  in  it  and  a  league  from  it 
there  were  thirty  thousand  men  in  garrison, t  guarding  that 
pass  to  prevent  our  going  through  it,  and  also  to  prevent 
the  inhabitants  of  the  city  and  the  neighboring  provinces 
from  serving  your  Highness,  or  being  our  friends.  That 
they  would  have  come  to  offer  their  loyal  service  if 
those  people  had  not  hindered,  and  they  gave  me  this 
information  that  I  might  devise  a  remedy  ;  since,  be- 
sides the  obstacles  thrown  in  the  way  of  their  wishes, 
the  citizens  and  all  the  neighboring  people  were  greatly 
injured  by  this  state  of  things;  and  as  there  were  many 
armed  men  collected,  the  people  were  aggrieved  and  ill- 
treated  by  them,  being  deprived  of  their  women,  farms, 
&c. ;  and  I  might  see  they  were  ready  to  do  whatever  I 
directed,  if  I  only  affo-'ded  them  protection. 

Immediately  after  having  thanked  them  for  their  in- 
formation and  offers,  I  gave  them  thirteen  horse  and  two 
hundred  foot,  to  go  with  them,  together  with  about 
thirty  thousand  of  our  Indian  allies.  The  plan  was  to 
make  the  attack  by  surprise,  and  that  when  they  ap- 
proached the  city,  the  lord  and  the  natives,  and  the  rest 
of  his  vassals  and  supporters,  should  be  in  readiness  and 
surround  the  quarters  in  which  the  officers  were  lodged, 

*  Huaquechula — a  republic. — L.     t  These  were  Culuan  or  Mexican  troops. 


176  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

and  seize  and  kill  them  before  the  troops  could  come  to 
their  relief;  and  that  when  the  latter  should  come,  the 
Spaniards  were  to  be  already  in  the  city,  and  prepared 
to  fight  and  put  them  to  route.  When  they  had  gone, 
and  the  Spaniards  with  them,  they  all  proceeded  to  the 
city  of  Churultecal,  and  through  some  part  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Guasucingos  bordering  upon  the  territory  of 
Guacachula,  within  four  leagues  of  it;  and  it  is  said  the 
Spaniards  were  told  in  a  town  of  the  province  of  Guasu^ 
cingo,  that  the  inhabitants  of  that  province  were  leagued 
with  those  of  Guacachula  and  Culua,  to  draw  by  this 
artifice  the  Spaniards  into  that  city,  that  they  might  afc- 
tack  them  with  united  forces  and  destroy  them.  And 
as  the  fear  excited  by  the  Culuans  in  their  city  and  coun^- 
try  had  not  wholly  left  our  men,  this  information  spread 
consternation  among  the  Spaniards  ;  and  the  commander 
I  had  sent  with  them  made  an  examination  according  to 
the  best  of  his  judgment,  when  they  arrested  all  the 
chiefs  of  Guasucingo  that  were  with  them,  and  the  mesr 
sengers  from  the  city  of  Guacachula,  and  returned  with 
them  as  prisoners  to  the  city  of  Churultecal,  four  leagues 
from  that  place  ;  and  from  thence  they  sent  to  me  all 
the  prisoners,  attended  by  several  horse  and  foot,  with 
the  evidence  they  had  of  their  plans.  The  captain  also 
wrote  me  that  our  men  were  alarmed,  as  it  appeared  to 
them  the  affair  would  be  one  of  great  difficulty.  As  soon 
as  the  prisoners  had  arrived,  I  spoke  to  them  by  inter? 
preters,  and  having  used  the  greatest  diligence  to  ascer- 
tain the  truth,  it  seemed  to  me  that  the  captain  had  mis- 
understood them.  I  therefore  caused  them  to  be  set  at 
liberty,  and  satisfied  them  that  I  fully  believed  them  to 
be  loyal  vassals  of  your  sacred  Majesty,  and  that  I  would 
go  in  person  to  rout  the  Culuans  \  and  in  order  to  exhibit 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  177 

no  weakness  or  fear  to  the  natives  of  the  country,  as 
well  friends  as  enemies,  it  seemed  to  me  necessary  that 
the  enterprise  which  had  been  commenced  should  not 
be  abandoned.  That  I  might  relieve  the  Spaniards  of 
their  fears,  I  determined  to  lay  aside  business  and  the 
writing  of  my  despatch  to  your  Majesty,  in  which  I  was 
engaged,  and  immediately  set  out,  in  the  greatest  pos- 
sible haste,  and  arrived  the  same  day  at  the  city  of  Chu- 
rultecal,  eight  leagues  from  this  place,  where  I  found  the 
Spaniards,  who  all  declared  that  there  was  no  doubt  of 
the  treason. 

The  next  day  I  went  to  sleep  at  the  town  of  Guasu- 
eingo,  where  the  chiefs  had  been  arrested.  The  day 
following,  after  having  arranged  matters  with  the  mes- 
sengers of  Guacachula  at  what  points  we  should  enter 
the  city,  I  set  out  for  it  one  hour  before  day-break, 
and  arrived  near  it  at  about  ten  o'clock.  When  half  a 
league  distant,  there  came  along  the  road  certain  mes- 
sengers from  the  city,  and  informed  me  that  every  thing 
had  been  provided  and  was  in  readiness,  and  that  the 
Culuans  knew  nothing  of  our  coming,  as  the  spies  they 
had  placed  on  the  road  had  been  taken  by  the  natives 
of  the  city  ;  and  that  they  had  also  taken  others  whom 
the  Culuan  commanders  had  sent  to  visit  the  enclosures 
and  towers  of  the  city,  that  they  might  survey  the  field  ; 
and  thus  the  enemy  were  all  quite  off  their  guard,  sup- 
posing that  they  were  sufficiently  protected  from  surprise 
by  their  sentinels  and  scouts ;  so  that  my  arrival  would 
not  be  perceived.  Thus  I  made  great  haste  in  going  to 
the  city  without  being  discovered,  although  I  had  to  pass 
over  a  plain  from  which  they  might  easily  see  us.  Ac- 
cordingly it  appeared  that  we  were  discovered  by  our 
friends  in  the  city,  as  we  were  so  near,  who  immediately 


178  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

ran  to  the  quarters  of  the  Culuan  captains,  and  began 
to  attack  the  others  scattered  about  the  city.  When  I 
had  arrived  within  arrow-shot  of  the  city,  they  had  already 
made  about  forty  prisoners,  and  I  hastened  to  enter  it. 
A  very  loud  noise  was  heard  throughout  the  streets  of  the 
place,  which  arose  from  the  combat  going  on.  Guided 
by  a  native  of  the  city,  I  reached  the  quarters  of  the 
captains,  which  I  found  surrounded  by  more  than  three 
thousand  men,  fighting  to  enter  the  door.  They  had 
taken  the  upper  stories  and  the  terraces,  but  the  captains 
and  those  with  them  fought  so  stoutly  and  vigorously, 
that  the  assailants  could  not  force  an  entrance,  although 
the  former  were  few  in  number ;  because,  besides  the 
valor  with  which  they  fought,  the  building  itself  was  very 
strong.  As  soon  as  I  arrived,  we  entered,  and  so  many 
of  the  citizens  rushed  in  that  I  could  not  prevent  the  im- 
mediate death  of  the  captains  ;  for  I  wished  to  save  the 
lives  of  some  of  them  in  order  to  obtain  information  of 
the  affairs  of  the  great  city,  and  who  had  succeeded  Mu- 
teczuma  after  his  death,  &c.  I  rescued  only  one,  more 
dead  than  alive,  from  whom  I  learned  what  I  shall  here- 
after relate. 

Throughout  the  city  they  killed  many  Culuan s  who 
were  quartered  there ;  and  those  who  were  alive  when  I 
entered  the  place,  knowing  my  arrival,  began  to  fly  to- 
wards the  garrison,  many  of  whom  perished  in  the  act  of 
escaping.  The  tumult  was  quickly  heard  and  understood 
by  those  in  the  garrison,  as  it  occupied  a  lofty  situation, 
commanding  the  whole  city  and  the  adjacent  plain,  so  that 
almost  at  the  same  moment  those  who  had  fled  from  the 
city,  and  the  people  who  had  come  to  its  relief,  and  to 
see  what  was  taking  place,  met — of  whom  there  were 
more  than  thirty  thousand  men,  the  most  showy  people 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  179 

we  had  yet  seen,  for  they  wore  jewels  of  gold,  silver, 
and  feathers ;  and  as  the  city  is  large,  they  began  to  set 
fire  to  it  at  the  quarter  where  they  entered ;  this  soon 
came  to  the  knowledge  of  the  natives,  and  I  sallied  forth 
with  only  the  horse,  as  the  foot  were  very  much  fatigued. 
We  rushed  upon  them,  when  they  drew  back  into  a  nar- 
row pass,  which  we  entered,  following  in  their  rear,  and 
pursued  them  up  a  very  rugged  declivity ;  so  that  when 
we  had  reached  the  top  of  the  elevation,  neither  the  ene- 
my nor  ourselves  were  able  to  advance  or  retreat.  Many 
of  them  fell  down  dead  there  from  the  effects  of  the  heat, 
without  any  wounds ;  and  two  horses  were  unable  to 
move,  and  some  died.  We  did  them  much  injury.  Ma- 
ny of  our  Indian  allies  came  to  our  assistance,  and  being 
fresh,  while  the  enemy  were  almost  dead,  they  despatched 
many  of  them.  In  this  manner  the  field  was  soon  cleared 
of  those  that  survived,  although  somewhat  covered  with 
the  dead  ;  and  we  reached  the  barracks  they  had  newly 
built  in  the  fields,  which  were  divided  into  three  parts, 
each  of  which  seemed  a  good  sized  village ;  since  besides 
the  soldiers  they  had  large  retinues  of  servants  and  ex- 
tensive supplies  for  their  camp  ;  and  I  afterwards  learn- 
ed that  there  were  many  persons  of  distinction  among 
them.  The  whole  was  despoiled  and  consumed  by  the 
Indians,  our  allies,  of  whom  I  assure  your  Majesty  there 
were  assembled  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  men.* 
Having  by  this  victory  driven  the  enemy  out  of  the  coun- 
try, pursuing  them  until  they  had  passed  certain  bridges 
and  narrow  defiles,  we  returned  to  the  city,  where  we 
were  well  received  and  quartered  by  the  inhabitants ; 

*  On  account  of  these  acts  of  the  people  of  Huaquechula,  many  privileges 
were  granted  them,  which  they  retain  to  this  day. — L. 


180  LETTERS    OP    CORTES. 

and  we  rested  three  days  in  that  city,  having  great  need' 
of  repose. 

At  this  time  there  came  to  submit  themselves  to  the 
royal  service  of  your  Majesty  the  numerous  population 
inhabiting  the  mountainous  country,  situated  two  leagues 
from  the  place  where  the  enemy  had  pitched  their 
camp,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  from  which, 
as  I  have  mentioned,  smoke  issues  ;  this  people  are  call- 
ed Ocupatuyo.*  They  stated  that  their  cacique  had  gone 
away  with  the  Culuans  at  the  time  when  we  pursued 
them,  supposing  that  we  should  not  stop  short  of  his 
town ;  that  they  had  for  many  days  desired  my  friend- 
ship, and  would  have  come  to  acknowledge  themselves 
vassals  of  your  Majesty,  but  that  the  cacique  would  not 
permit  them,  not  desiring  it  himself,  although  they  had 
often  requested  him  to  allow  it.  That  they  now  wished 
to  serve  your  Highness  ;  and  that  there  was  left  a  brother 
of  the  cacique  who  had  always  been  of  their  opinion  in 
this  matter,  and  still  was  so.  They  therefore  requested 
that  he  might  succeed  to  the  government  of  the  district ; 
and  that  although  the  other  should  return,  I  should  not 
consent  to  his  being  received  as  cacique,  and  that  they 
should  not  so  receive  him.  I  answered  them,  that  as 
they  had  been  until  now  of  the  Culuan  league  and  party, 
and  rebels  against  the  service  of  your  Majesty,  they  de- 
served a  severe  punishment,  which  I  had  thought  of  exe- 
cuting on  their  persons  and  estates  ;  but  that  since  they 
had  come  forward  and  declared  the  cause  of  their 
rebellion  and  insurrection  was  the  cacique  who  governed 
them,  that  I,  in  the  name  of  your  Majesty,  pardoned  their 
past  errors,  and  received  and  admitted  them  into  the 
royal  service  ;  but  as  soon  as  I  should  discover  that  they 

*  Ocuituco,  which  is  at  the  base  of  the  volcano  — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  181 

had  again  erred,  they  should  be  surely  punished.  I 
added,  that  if  they  proved  to  be  loyal  subjects  of  your 
Highness,  they  would  receive  favor  and  assistance  at 
my  hands  in  the  royal  name  ;"■  and  they  promised  ac- 
cordingly. 

This  city  of  Guacachula  is  situated  on  a  plain,  bounded 
on  one  side  by  a  range  of  lofty  and  precipitous  moun- 
tains ;  the  other  sides  are  bordered  by  two  streams,  run- 
ning through  large  and  deep  ravines,  two  bow-shots 
distant  from  one  another.  The  avenues  to  the  city  are 
few  in  number,  and  extremely  difficult  both  in  the  ascent 
and  descent,  so  that  they  can  hardly  be  passed  on  horse- 
back. The  whole  city  is  surrounded  by  a  wall  of  great 
strength,  built  of  stone  and  lime,  more  than  twenty  feet 
in  height  on  the  outside,  and  almost  even  with  the  ground 
on  the  inside.  Along  the  wall  there  is  erected  a  breast- 
work or  battlement  nearly  three  feet  high,  to  protect  them 
in  fighting ;:  and  there'  are  four  entrances,  so  broad  that 
one  can  pass  through  on  horseback.  At  each  entrance 
there  are  three  or  four  bends  in  the  extremities  of  the 
wall,  doubling  over  one  another?  and  each  of  these 
bends  of  the  wall  has  its  breastwork  on  it  for  fighting. 
Throughout  the  whole  circuit  of  the  walls  there  are  heaps 
of  stones,  large  and  small,  and  of  all  shapes,  for  use  in 
combat.  The  city  contains  five  or  six  thousand  families, 
and  there  are  as  many  more  in  the  villages  subject  to  it. 
The  situation  is  uncommonly  fine,  and  within  the  city 
are  numerous  gardens,  filled  as-  usual  with  fruits  and 
sweet  scented  herbs.* 

After  having  reposed  three  or  four  days  in  this  city, 

*  Clavigero  says,  "  Quauhquechallan  is  called  by  the  Spaniards  Guaqueechula, 
or  Huacachula.  At  present  it  is  a  pleasant  Indian  village,  abounding  with  good 
fruit." 

24 


182  LETTERS    OF    CORTES* 

we  proceeded  to  another  city,  called  Izucan,  four  leagues 
from  Guacachula ;  for  I  was  informed  that  there  had 
also  been  a  large  number  of  Culuans  in  garrison  at  that 
place,  to  whom  the  city,  and  several  towns  and  villages 
adjacent  to  it,  were  tributary ;  and  the  inhabitants  were 
represented  as  very  friendly  to  the  Culuans,  on  account 
of  its  cacique  being  a  native  of  Culua,  and  even  a  rela- 
tive of  Muteczuma.  In  my  progress  thither  I  was  accom- 
panied by  so  great  a  multitude  of  natives,  vassals  of  your 
Majesty,  that  they  almost  covered  the  fields  and  hills  as 
far  as  we  could  see  ;  and  in  truth,  there  were  more  than 
one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  men.  We  arrived 
over  against  the  city  of  Izucan  at  ten  o'clock ;  all  the 
women  and  feeble  persons  had  been  removed  from  it, 
but  there  remained  five  or  six  thousand  warriors,  well 
equipped.  When  we  had  come  in  front  of  the  place, 
they  attempted  to  defend  it  y  but  the  attempt  was  soon 
abandoned,  when  it  was  discovered  that  we  had  been 
guided  to  that  side  of  the  city  where  the  entrance  was 
the  least  difficult.  We  pursued  the  enemy  through  the 
town,  forcing  them  to  leap  from  the  top  of  the  walls,  and 
cross  the  river  that  almost  encircles  the  place  inks  course. 
They  destroyed  the  bridges  in  their  flight,  which  circum- 
stance delayed  us  somewhat  in  crossing,  but  we  con- 
tinued the  pursuit  for  a  league  and  a  half,  and  I  think 
few  of  them  escaped  who  had  remained  in  the  eity. 

On  returning  to  the  place,  I  sent  two  of  its  inhabitants, 
who  had  been  made  prisoners,  to  the  principal  persons, 
desiring  them  to  return  to  the  city,  for  the  cacique  had 
departed  with  the  Culuans  who  had  occupied  the  garri- 
son ;  and  I  promised  them  in  your  Majesty's  name,  that 
if  they  became  loyal  vassals  to  your  Highness,  they 
would  henceforth  be  well  treated,  and  their  rebellion  and 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  183 

past  offences  pardoned.  The  messenger  went,  and  in 
three  days  from  that  time  some  of  the  principal  citizens 
came  and  asked  pardon  for  their  error,  declaring  that 
they  had  been  unable  to  avoid  doing  what  they  had  done, 
as  they  were  compelled  to  obey  the  commands  of  their 
lord ;  and  they  promised  that  henceforth,  as  their  lord 
had  gone  away  and  abandoned  them,  they  would  truly 
and  loyally  serve  your  Majesty.  I  assured  them  of  their 
safety,  and  bade  them  return  to  their  houses,  and  bring 
back  their  women  and  children,  who  had  been  carried  to 
other  places  and  towns  in  alliance  with  the  Culuans ; 
and  I  directed  them  to  tell  the  natives  of  those  places 
to  come  to  me,  and  I  would  overlook  the  past ;  and  that 
they  must  not  compel  me  to  march  against  them,  as  they 
would  suffer  great  injury,  and  it  would  be  extremely 
painful  for  me  to  inflict  it  on  them. 

Accordingly  in  two  days  after  the  inhabitants  of  Izu- 
can  returned  to  their  homes,  and  all  the  people  subject 
to  them  came  to  acknowledge  themselves  the  vassals  of 
your  Highness  ;  and  so  all  that  province  remained  secure 
and  steady  in  its  allegiance  as  our  allies  and  those  of 
the  people  of  Guacachula.  A  question  arose  as  to  whom 
appertained  the  government  of  the  city  and  province  of 
Izucan  in  the  absence  of  the  cacique,  who  had  gone  to 
Mexico.  It  appeared  that  there  had  been  some  contro- 
versy and  party  division  between  a  natural  son  of  the 
native  lord  of  the  country  who  had  been  put  to  death 
by  Muteczuma,  (the  former  being  now  in  possession  of 
the  office,  and  married  to  his  niece,)  and  on  the  other 
side  a  grandson  of  the  native  lord,  a  son  of  his  legiti- 
mate daughter,  the  wife  of  the  lord  of  Guacachula, 
whose  son  was  thus  the  grandson  of  the  native  lord  of 
Izucan.     It  was  now  agreed  amongst  them  that  this  son 


184  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

of  the  lord  of  Guacachula,  descended  in  a  legitimate 
line  from  the  old  caciques  of  the  province,  should  inherit 
the  government ;  since  the  other  claimant  being  an  ille- 
gitimate son  was  not  entitled  to  the  heirship.  Homage 
was  accordingly  rendered  in  my  presence  to  Muchacho, 
(the  name  of  the  young  prince,)  then  about  ten  years  of 
age ;  and  because  he  was  too  young  to  administer  the 
government,  his  illegitimate  uncle  and  three  other  princi- 
pal citizens,  one  from  the  city  of  Guacachula,  and  the 
two  others  of  Izucan,  were  appointed  regents,  who  were 
also  entrusted  with  the  care  of  Muchacho  until  he  was 
of  an  age  to  govern. 

The  city  of  Izucan  contains  about  three  or  four  thou- 
sand families ;  its  streets  and  places  of  trade  are  well 
disposed  ;  it  had  a  hundred  temples,  and  very  substan- 
tial oratories  with  towers,  all  of  which  were  consumed. 
It  stands  on  a  plain  sloping  from  a  moderate  eminence, 
on  which  there  is  a  good  fortification  %  and  on  the  other 
side  beyond  the  plain,  it  is  washed  by  a  deep  river  which 
runs  near  the  wall  \  and  a  ravine,  formed  by  the  lofty 
banks  of  the  river,  passes  round  it.  Above  the  ravine 
there  is  constructed  a  breastwork,  completely  enclosing 
the  city,  about  five  feet  in  height,  and  a  great  quantity 
of  stones  are  collected  in  piles  throughout  its  whole  cir- 
cuit. The  city  bad  in  its  environs  a  valley,  extremely 
fertile  in  fruits  and  in  cotton,  which  does  not  grow  in  any 
of  the  mountainous  tracts  on  account  of  the  severity  of  the 
cold ;  here  the  climate  is  warm,  from  its  being  sheltered 
by  the  mountains.  All  this  valley  is  watered  by  excel- 
lent conduits,  which  are  well  formed  and  arranged. 

I  remained  in  this  city  until  I  saw  its  inhabitants  re- 
settled in  peace ;  and  while  I  was  there  the  lord  of  a 
city  called  Guajocingo,  and  another  from  another  city 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  185 

ten  leagues  from  Izucan,  and  on  the  frontiers  of  Mexico, 
also  came  to  offer  their  homage  as  vassals  of  your  Ma- 
jesty. There  also  came  persons  from  eight  towns  in  the 
province  of  Coastoaca  [Oaxaca],  which  is  one  of  which 
I  have  made  mention  before,  as  having  been  seen  by  the 
Spaniards.  I  sent  to  search  for  gold  in  the  province  of  Zu- 
zula,  [Zacatula],  where,  and  in  that  of  Tamazula,*  adjoin- 
ing it,  I  remarked  there  was  a  very  large  population  with 
houses  extremely  well  built,  of  better  stone  than  is  seen 
in  any  of  these  parts  of  the  country.  The  province  of 
Coastoaca  is  forty  leagues  from  Izucan  ;  and  the  persons 
from  the  eight  towns  in  that  province  professed  allegiance 
as  vassals  of  your  Highness,  and  stated  that  four  others 
that  were  left  behind  would  soon  arrive.  They  begged 
that  I  would  pardon  them  for  not  having  come  before,  as 
they  were  prevented  by  fear  of  the  Culuans  ;  and  they 
declared  that  they  had  never  taken  up  arms  against  me, 
nor  caused  the  death  of  any  Spaniard  ;  and  that  since 
they  had  submitted  themselves  to  your  Highness,  they 
would  be  your  true  and  loyal  vassals  to  perform  your 
will,  although  they  had  not  dared  to  do  so  before  on  ac- 
count of  their  fear  of  the  Culuans.  So  that  your  High- 
ness may  be  assured  that  if  it  please  our  Lord  to  grant 
you  success,  we  shall  in  a  very  short  period  recover  what 
has  been  lost,  or  a  great  part  of  it,  as  every  day  many 
provinces  and  cities  come  to  swear  allegiance  to  your 
Majesty,  who  have  been  subjects  of  Muteczuma,  for  they 
see  that  those  who  do  this  are  well  received  and  kindly 
treated  by  me,  while  those  who  act  otherwise  are  every 
day  destroyed. 

From  the  prisoners  taken  in  the  city  of  Guacachula, 
especially  the  one  that  was  wounded,  I  obtained  exten- 

*  Tamazula  is  in  the  province  of  Sinaloa,  on  its  southern  coast. — L. 


186  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

sive  information  as  to  the  state  of  things  in  the  great  city 
of  Temixtitan ;  in  particular,  how  after  the  death  of 
Muteczuma,  his  brother,  named  Cuetravacin,  lord  of  the 
city  of  Iztapalapa,  had  succeeded  him  in  the  govern- 
ment ;  since  the  son  of  Muteczuma  who  was  the  heir  to 
the  throne  had  perished  at  the  bridges,  and  of  his  two 
other  sons  who  had  been  left  by  us  alive,  one  was  an 
idiot  and  the  other  paralytic.  For  these  reasons  the 
brother  had  succeeded  to  the  throne,  who  had  already 
declared  war  against  us,  and  was  esteemed  by  them  a 
valiant  and  prudent  man.  I  was  also  informed  that  the 
Mexicans  were  erecting  fortifications  both  in  the  city  and 
in  other  parts  of  their  dominions,  and  were  engaged  in 
preparing  walls,  subterranean  passages,  ditches,  and 
different  kinds  of  arms.  Of  the  latter  were  heavy  lances, 
like  pikes,  for  horsemen,  some  of  which  we  had  already 
seen  in  the  province  of  Tepeaca,  where  the  enemy  had 
fought  with  them ;  and  also  in  the  farm-houses  and 
buildings  in  which  the  Culuans  had  been  quartered  in 
Guacachula,  many  of  these  arms  had  been  found.  Of 
many  other  things  I  was  likewise  informed  ;  but  not 
wishing  to  be  prolix  in  my  accounts  to  your  Majesty,  I 
omit  the  recital. 

I  despatched  to  the  island  of  Espafiola  four  ships,  to 
bring  immediately  horses  and  men  for  our  relief;  and  I 
also  sent  to  purchase  four  others  for  the  purpose  of  trans- 
porting from  the  same  island  and  the  city  of  St.  Domingo, 
horses,  arms,  crossbows  and  powder,  as  being  the  most 
wanted  in  this  country ;  for  foot  soldiers  bearing  small 
bucklers  are  of  but  little  use  alone,  in  the  midst  of  so  great 
multitudes  of  people,  possessing  such  strong  and  extensive 
cities  and  fortifications.  I  also  wrote  to  the  Licentiate, 
Rodrigo  de  Figueroa  and  the  officials  of  your  Highness, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  1S7 

who  reside  on  that  island,  that  they  should  do  all  in  their 
power  to  aid  and  assist  in  these  things,  as  it  was  of  so  great 
importance  to  your  Majesty's  service  and  the  security 
of  our  persons  ;  since  I  intended  whenever  these  succors 
should  arrive  to  return  to  the  great  city  and  its  domin- 
ions ;  and  I  believed,  as  I  have  already  said  to  your  Ma- 
jesty, that  I  should  in  a  very  short  time  be  restored  to 
the  condition  in  which  I  before  was,  and  recover  past 
losses.  In  the  meantime,  I  am  employed  in  building 
twelve  brigantines  for  use  on  the  lakes,*  and  already  the 
decks  and  other  parts  of  the  vessels  are  in  readiness, 
which  are  to  be  transported  by  land,  so  as  to  be  put 
together  in  a  short  time  immediately  on  our  arrival  there  ; 
and  for  the  same  purpose  we  are  collecting  nails,  pitch, 
oakum,  sails,  oars,  and  other  necessary  articles.  And  I 
assure  your  Majesty  that  I  shall  not  think  of  rest  until 
this  object  is  accomplished,  nor  cease  to  labor  for  it  in 
every  possible  way  and  manner,  to  whatever  degree  of 
toil,  peril,  or  expense  it  may  expose  me. 

Two  or  three  days  ago  I  learned  by  letter  from  the 
lieutenant  commanding  in  my  place  at  Vera  Cruz,  that 
a  small  caravel  had  arrived  there  with  about  thirty  men, 
both  seamen  and  landsmen,  who  report  that  they 
had  come  in  quest  of  the  men  sent  by  Francisco  de 
Garay  to  this  country,  of  whom  I  have  already  given 
your  Highness  an  account,  and  of  their  having  arrived 
in  great  want  of  provisions,  in  such  distress  that  if 
they  had  not  obtained  a  supply  from  us,  they  would  have 
perished  with  hunger  and  thirst.  I  was  informed  that 
this  caravel  had  been  to  the  river  Panuco,  and  had  re- 
mained there  thirty  days,  without  seeing  any  person  in 

*  Tradition  uniformly  says  that  this  labor  was  performed  in  a  certain  quartet 
of  Hueyotlipan,  called  Cuausimalan,  that  is.  Where  they  make  masts.~-L. 


188  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

the  whole  river  or  land ;  from  whence  they  inferred  that 
on  account  of  what  had  .occurred,  the  people  had  aban- 
doned the  country.  Those  in  the  caravel  also  informed 
me,  that  two  other  ships  of  Francisco  de  Garay  had 
sailed  soon  after  them,  with  men  and  horses,  and  they 
believed  they  must  have  passed  down  the  coast.  It 
seemed  to  me  that  it  would  promote  the  service  of  your 
Highness  to  prevent  those  ships  and  the  men  in  them 
from  being  lost,  and  to  guard  against  the  natives  doing 
them  even  greater  injury  than  the  former  party  uninformed 
as  they  were  of  what  had  occurred  in  the  country ;  I  there- 
fore sent  the  caravel  in  search  of  the  two  ships,  in  order 
to  apprize  them  of  what  had  passed,  and  advise  their 
coming  to  Vera  Cruz,  where  was  the  first  captain  sent 
by  Francisco  de  Garay,  waiting  their  arrival,  should  it 
please  God  that  they  fall  in  with  them,  and  in  time  to 
prevent  their  landing ;  since  the  natives  were  already  on 
the  look  out  for  them,  and  the  Spaniards  not  being  aware 
of  it  I  had  reason  to  fear  would  suffer  much  injury,  to 
the  great  disservice  of  God  our  Lord  and  your  Highness ; 
for  it  would  be  the  means  of  whetting  the  appetites  of 
those  blood-thirsty  dogs,  and  give  them  resolution  and 
spirit  to  attack  those  who  should  come  after. 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  I  heard  of  the  elevation'of 
a  brother  of  Muteczuma  to  the  government  after  the  death 
of  the  latter,  and  that  this  prince,  who  was  named  Cue- 
travecin  [Cuithahuatzin],  was  preparing  many  kinds  of 
arms,  and  fortifying  the  great  city  and  other  cities  around 
the  lakes.  I  have  since  learned  that  Cuetravecin  has 
sent  his  messengers  throughout  the  land,  the  provinces, 
and  cities  subject  to  his  power,  to  declare  to  and  assure 
his  vassals,  that  he  will  acquit  them  for  one  year  of  all 
tributes  and  services  that  they  are  bound  to  pay,  and  that 


CONQUEST   OF    MEXICO.  189 

they  shall  be  free  from  giving  or  paying  any  thing — pro- 
vided that,  by  every  means  in  their  power,  they  wage  an 
exterminating  war  against  all  Christians,  either  killing 
them,  or  driving  them  out  of  the  country  ;  and  that  they 
should  treat  in  the  same  manner  all  natives  who  are  our 
friends  and  allies.  Although  I  have  hope  in  our  Lord 
that  they  will  not  succeed  in  any  respect  according  to 
their  plan  and  intentions,  I  find  myself  in  the  most  ex- 
treme necessity  of  aiding  and  succoring  the  Indians 
friendly  to  us ;  since  every  day  they  come  from  nume- 
rous cities-,  towns,  and  countries  to  beg  assistance  from 
us  against  the  Indians  of  Culua,  their  enemies  and  ours, 
who  wage  war  on  then*  because  they  are  in  friendship 
and  alliance  with  us  ;  and  I  am  unable  to  render  aid  in 
every  quarter,  as  I  would  wish.  But  as  I  have  said, 
should  it  please  our  Lord,  he  will  supply  our  want  of 
strength,  and  send  quickly  his  own  succor,  as  well  as 
that  we  have  asked  for  from  Espanola. 

Inasmuch  as  this  country  so  far  as  I  have  been  able 
to  examine  and  form  an  opinion  bears  a  striking  resem- 
blance to  Spain,  as  well  in  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  as  in 
its  extent,  and  the  coolness  of  its  climate,  ancl  in  many 
other  respects,  it  seemed  to  me  that  the  most  suitable 
name  that  could  be  given  to  it  was  New  Spain  of  the 
ocean-sea ,  and  as  this  name  was  conferred  upon  it  in 
the  name  of  your  Majesty,  I  humbly  entreat  your  High- 
ness to  confirm  and  direct  that  it  shall  be  so  called. 

I  have  written  to  your  Majesty,  although  in  a  poor 
style,  the  truth  as  to  all  that  has  transpired  in  these  parts,- 
and  whatever  it  is  necessary  your  Highness  should  be 
informed  of;  and  in  the  other  despatch  that  goes  with 
the  present  one,  I  send  to  beg  your  royal  Excellency  to» 
appoint  a  person  of  high  character  to  come  hither  and 


190  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

make  inquiry  and  investigation  as  to  every  thing  for  the 
information  of  your  sacred  Majesty ;  in  this  despatch, 
likewise,  I  most  humbly  entreat  the  same  thing,  since  I 
shall  consider  it  in  the  light  of  a  distinguished  favor,  as 
the  means  of  imparting  entire  credit  to  what  I  write. 

Most  noble  and  most  excellent  Prince,  may  God  our 
Lord  preserve  the  life  and  very  royal  person  and  most 
powerful  state  of  your  sacred  Majesty,  and  grant  you  for 
a  long  period  the  addition  of  as  many  greater  kingdoms 
and  dominions  as  your  royal  heart  may  desire.  Dated 
at  La  Villa  de  la  Frontera  of  this  New  Spain,  the  30th  of 
October,  1520. 

From  your  sacred  Majesty's  most  humble  servant  and 
vassal,  who  kisses  the  very  royal  feet  and  hands  of  your 
Highness. 

FERNAN.  CORTES. 


NOTE  .* 

Afterwards,  in  the  month  of  March  following,  there 
came  news  from  New  Spain,  that  the  Spaniards  had 
taken  the  great  city  of  Temixtitan  by  storm ;  when  a 
greater  number  of  Indians  perished  than  of  Jews  in  the 
destruction  of  Jerusalem  by  Vespasian,  and  in  it  were 
more  people  than  in  that  holy  city.  They  found  little 
treasure,  because  the  inhabitants  had  taken  and  thrown 
it  into  the  waters  ;  they  obtained  only  200,000  pesos,  and 
the  Spaniards  remained  well  fortified  in  the  city,  of  whom 
there  are  now  in  it  fifteen  hundred  foot  and  five  hundred 
horse ;  and  they  have-in  the  field  more  than  one  hundred 

'  This  note  appears  to  have  been  added  to  the  first  edition  of  this  Letter,  in 
1522,  before  the  receipt  of  the  second  letter  in  Spain. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  1.9 i 

thousand  Indians,  natives  of  the  country,  in  their  alliance. 
These  are  great  things  and  strange,  and  it  is  without 
doubt  a  new  world,  which  we  who  live  on  its  borders 
have  an  eager  desire  to  see.  This  news  is  to  April  the 
first,  1522,  which  we  as  yet  deem  worthy  of  belief. 

The  present  Letter  or  Narrative  [Carta  de  Relacion] 
was  printed  in  the  most  noble  and  loyal  city  of  Seville, 
by  Jacob  Crombreger,  of  Germany,  on  the  Sth  day  of 
October,  1522.* 

*  From  this  date  it  is  known,  that  the  impression  of  this  Letter  was  the  first 
specimen  of  the  art  of  printing  at  Seville,  and  perchance  in  all  Spain  ;  since  the 
Complutensian  Bible  is  the  first  printed  work,  celebrated  as  published  at  the 
expense  of  the  great  Cardinal  Den  Fray  Francisco  Ximenes  de  Cisneros. — L. 

This  is  incorrect ;  according  to  Panzer,  {Annates  Ti/pographici,  etc.)  the  first 
printing  was  done  at  Seville  in  1501,  and  seve-al  publications  appeared  prior  to 
1522.  The  Complutensian  P.olyglott  Bible  of  Cardinal  Ximenes  was  printed 
in  1514-17. 


LETTER  III. 
THE  THIRD  LETTER  OR  RELATION 

SENT   BV 

HERNANDO  CORTES, 

C.IPT1IN    AND    CHIEF   MAGCSVKATE    OF    YUCATAN,   CALLED    NEW    SPAIN     OF    THE    OCEAN    SEA, 

TO   THE 

MOST  NOBLE  LORD  DON  CARLOS,  EMPEROR, 

Concerning  the  wonderful  events  of  the  conquest  and  recovery  of  the  great  and 
admirable  city  of  Teraisctitan,  and  other  tributary  provinces,  which  had  re- 
belled. 

Printed  at  Seville  by  J.  Crombreger  Alenian ;  the  printing  was  finished  on  the 
30th  of  fllarch,  1523. 


NOTE. 

On  the  preceding  page  the  title  of  the  original  edition 
of  this  Letter  is  translated  from  Ternaux's  Bibliotheque 
Americaine.  A  second  edition  was  published  the  same 
year,  it  seems,  at  Saragossa,  by  George  Coci  Aleman. 

The  suffix  Aleman  added  to  the  names  of  these  early 
printers  signifies  German,  or  from  Germany. 


LETTERS  OR  DESPATCHES 


HERNANDO  CORTES, 


EMPEROR  CHARLES  V, 


LETTER  III. 

Dated  at  the  City  of  Cuyoacan,  (Mexico,)  May  15th,  1522. 

Most  High  and  Potent  Prince  :  Most  Catholic 

and  Invincible  Emperor,  King  and  Lord : 

Alonzo  de  Mendoza,  a  native  of  Medellin,  whom  I 
despatched  from  this  New  Spain  on  the  fifth  of  March, 
in  the  past  year  1521*.  was  the  bearer  of  the  second  re- 
lation that  I  addressed  to  your  Majesty,  containing  an 
account  of  all  that  had  transpired  in  this  country; 
which  I  finished  writing  on  the  thirtieth  of  October,  1520, 
but  on  account  of  unfavorable  weather,  and  the  loss  of 
three  ships,  by  one  of  which  I  had  intended  to  forward 
my  relation  to  your  Majesty,  and  by  the  others  to  send 
for  aid  to  the  island  of  Espanola,  much  delay  arose  on 
the  part  of  Mendoza,  as  I  have  already  more  fully  in- 
formed your  Majesty.  In  the  concluding  part  of  that 
despatch  I  stated  to  your  Majesty,  that  after  we  had  been 
forcibly  expelled  from  the  city  of  Temixtitan,  I  had 
marched  against  the  province  of  Tepeaca,  one  of  its 


196  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

tributaries,  that  had  joined  in  the  rebellion  against  us ; 
and  that  with  the  assistance  of  the  Spaniards  who  had 
survived,  and  our  Indian  allies,  I  had  succeeded  in  re- 
ducing it  again  into  subjection  to  your  Majesty.  I 
also  mentioned  that  on  account  of  the  treason  of  this 
people,  and  the  great  losses  they  had  occasioned  to  the 
Spaniards,  some  of  whom  had  perished  by  their  hands, 
all  which  was  still  fresh  in  our  minds,  I  had  determined 
to  return  in  a  hostile  manner  against  the  great  city,  which 
had  been  the  cause  of  all  this  trouble  ;  and  that  for  this 
purpose  I  should  commence  building  thirteen  brigantines, 
or  small  sailing  vessels,  in  order  with  them  to  accomplish 
as  much  as  possible  to  the  injury  of  the  city,  if  its  inha- 
bitants persevered  in  their  treasonable  designs.  I  also 
wrote  to  your  Majesty  that  while  the  vessels  were  build- 
ing, and  I  and  our  Indian  allies  were  making  prepara- 
tions to  return  against  the  enemy,  I  sent  to  Espanola  for 
recruits  of  men,  horses,  artillery,  and  arms,  and  for  this 
purpose  I  wrote  to  your  Majesty's  officials  resident  there  ; 
and  I  forwarded  money  sufficient  to  defray  the  cost  and 
expenses  of  all  that  was  necessary  for  our  relief.  Your 
Majesty  may  be  assured  that  I  have  not  thought  of  enjoy- 
ing a  moment's  repose,  nor  shall  cease  to  feel  the  deepest 
anxiety  in  regard  to  this  matter,  until  victory  is  secure  ; 
disregarding  whatever  of  danger,  labor  and  cost  may 
attend  this  determination,  while  preparing  to  take  up  our 
line  of  march  from  the  province  of  Tepeaca. 

I  also  informed  your  Majesty  that  there  had  arrived  at 
the  port  of  Vera  Cruz  a  caravel  belonging  to  Francisco  de 
Garay,  lieutenant-governor  of  the  island  of  Jamaica,  in 
great  distress,  with  about  thirty  persons  on  board ;  and 
that  two  other  ships  had  sailed  for  the  river  Panuco, 
where  the  natives  had  attacked  and  routed  a  captain  of 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  197 

Francisco  de  Garay,  and  it  was  feared  that  if  these  landed 
there,  they  would  likewise  suffer  from  the  hostility  of  the 
natives.  I  also  wrote  your  Majesty  that  I  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  despatch  immediately  a  vessel  in  quest  of 
those  ships,  to  advise  them  of  what  had  occurred  ;  and 
no  sooner  had  I  written  this,  than  it  pleased  God  one  of 
the  ships  should  arrive  at  the  port  of  Vera  Cruz,  in  which 
came  a  captain  with  about  twenty-five  men,  who  was 
there  apprised  of  what  had  befallen  the  other  party,  ac- 
cording to  the  information  received  from  the  commander 
himself;  and  I  assured  them  that  if  they  went  to  the 
river  Panuco,  they  would  be  exposed  to  great  danger 
from  the  Indians.  While  they  yet  lay  in  the  harbor  with 
the  determination  of  going  to  that  river,  there  arose  a 
storm  attended  by  a  violent  wind,  which,,  forced  the  ship 
to  depart  with  the  loss  of  its  cables,  and  to  run  into  a  port 
on  the  coast  twelve  leagues  above,  called  San  Juan  ;* 
when  after  landing  all  the  people,  together  with  seven  or 
eight  horses  and  as  many  mares,  they  hauled  up  the 
ship  for  repairs  on  account  of  its  having  sprung  aleak. 
As  soon  as  I  heard  these  particulars,  I  wrote  immedi- 
ately to  the  captain,  assuring  him  that  I  regretted  very 
much  what  had  occurred,  and  that  I  had  sent  directions 
to  the  commander  at  Vera  Cruz  to  afford  every  possible 
aid  to  him  and  the  people  with  him,  supplying  them  with 
whatever  they  required  ;  that  he  should  ascertain  their 
plans,  and  if  all  or  any  of  them  wished  to  return  in  the 
ships  that  were  there,  he  should  give  them  leave,  and 
allow  them  to  depart  freely.  The  captain  and  the  per- 
sons who  had  arrived  with  him  determined  to  remain, 
and  to  join  me  at  the  place  where  I  was  ;  but  of  the  other 

*  The  present  Vera  Cruz. 

26 


19S  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

ship  we  have  not  received  any  intelligence  to  this  mo- 
ment; and  as  much  time  has  elapsed,  we  are  in  great 
doubt  as  to  her  safety,  unless  it  has  pleased  God  to  carry 
her  into  a  good  port. 

Being  on  the  point  of  departing  from  the  province  of 
Tepeaca,  I  learned  that  two  provinces  called  Zacatami 
and  Jalazingo,  subject  to  the  lord  of  Temixtitan,  through 
whose  territory  the  road  leads  from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  great 
city,  had  rebelled,  and  that  the  inhabitants  being  ill-dis- 
posed towards  us  had  murdered  several  Spaniards  who 
were  on  the  road.  In  order  to  render  the  road  secure,  and 
visit  these  people  with  some  punishment  if  they  did  not 
keep  the  peace,  I  despatched  a  captain  with  twenty  horse 
and  two  hundred  foot,  and  some  of  our  Indian  allies,  to 
whom  I  gave  directions  on  the  part  of  your  Majesty,  to 
require  the  inhabitants  of  those  provinces  to  come  and 
quietly  submit  themselves  as  vassals  of  your  Majesty,  as 
they  had  before  done,  and  I  would  treat  them  with  the 
utmost  moderation  in  my  power  ;  but  that  if  they  did  not 
choose  to  take  this  course,  I  would  make  war  upon  them. 
I  added,  that  after  this  was  effected,  and  the  two  provinces 
were  reduced  to  subjection,  he  should  return  with  all  the 
people  to  the  city  of  Tascaltecal,  where  I  would  wait 
for  him.  So  he  departed,  in  the  beginning  of  December, 
1520,  and  took  the  road  for  those  provinces,  which  lie 
twenty  leagues  distant. 

After  this,  most  powerful  Sire,  about  the  middle  of 
December  of  said  year,  I  left  the  town  of  Segura  de  la 
Frontera,  which  is  in  the  province  of  Tepeaca,  having 
placed  there  a  captain  and  sixty  men,  according  to  the 
request  of  the  natives ;  and  I  sent  all  the  foot  to  the  city 
of  Tascaltecal,  where  were  building  the  brigantines, 
which  is  nine  or  ten  leagues  from  Tepeaca  ;  while  I 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  199 

went  the  same  day  with  twenty  horse  to  sleep  at  the  city 
of  Cholula,  whose  inhabitants  had  desired  me  to  come 
thither,  inasmuch  as  on  account  of  the  sickness  of  small- 
pox which  had  attacked  the  people  of  these  countries,  as 
well  as  the  islanders,  many  of  their  caciques  had  died, 
and  they  wished  that  others  might  be  appointed  in  their 
place,  by  my  hand,  and  in  the  presence  of  themselves 
and  me.  Having  arrived  there,  we  were  extremely  well 
received,  and  after  having  complied  with  their  wishes  in 
this  matter,  and  given  them  to  understand  that  my  course 
was  to  enter  in  a  warlike  manner  into  the  provinces  of 
Mexico  and  Temixtitan,  I  desired  them,  since  they  were 
vassals  of  your  Majesty,  and  as  such  must  preserve  their 
friendship  with  us,  and  we  with  them  even  to  death,  to 
aid  me  with  men  during  the  time  I  was  compelled  to 
carry  on  the  war  ;  and  that  as  for  the  Spaniards  whom  I 
should  send  to  their  country,  and  who  would  go  and 
come  through  it,  to  treat  them  in  such  a  manner  as  they 
were  under  obligation  as  friends  to  do.  After  they  had 
promised  to  do  as  I  requested,  having  remained  in  the 
city  two  or  three  days,  I  departed  for  Tascaltecal,  six 
leagues  distant ;  and  having  arrived  there,  all  the  Spa- 
niards who  were  there  and  the  inhabitants  of  that  city 
assembled  and  testified  their  joy  at  my  coming.  The 
next  day  the  nobles  of  the  city  and  province  came  to 
speak  with  me,  and  to  inform  me  that  Magiscacin,  who 
was  the  principal  of  all  the  nobility,  had  died  of  the 
small-pox,  and  they  knew  well  that  on  account  of  our 
great  friendship  for  each  other,  I  should  be  much  grieved 
at  this  event ;  but  he  had  left  a  son  twelve  or  thirteen 
years  of  age  to  whom  the  rights  of  his  father  descended, 
and  they  begged  of  me  that  I  would  recognize  him  as 


200  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

the  heir  ;  which  I  accordingly  did,  in  the  name  of  your 
Majesty,  with  which  they  were  all  very  much  pleased. 

When  I  reached  this  city,  I  found  that  the  master 
workmen  and  carpenters  employed  on  the  brigantines 
had  used  great  expedition  in  framing  the  cross-timbers 
and  decks,  and  had  accomplished  a  reasonable  amount 
of  work  ;  and  I  at  once  sent  off  to  Vera  Cruz  for  all  the 
iron  and  nails  that  were  there,  together  with  the  sails, 
cordage,  and  other  things  necessary  for  the  vessels ;  and 
as  there  was  no  tar,  I  set  some  Spaniards  about  making 
some  on  the  adjacent  mountains.  Thus  every  provision 
required  for  the  brigantines  was  attended  to,  in  order 
that  when  it  pleased  God  I  should  be  in  the  provinces  of 
Mexico  and  Temixtitan,  I  might  be  able  to  have  them 
transported  thither,  a  distance  of  ten  or  twelve  leagues 
from  the  city  of  Tascaltecal ;  and  during  the  fifteen  days 
that  I  remained  in  the  latter  city,  I  heard  nothing  else 
but  the  hurrying  of  the  workmen,  and  the  preparation 
of  the  arms  for  the  purpose  of  giving  security  to  our 
march. 

Two  or  three  days  before  Christmas,  the  captain  with 
the  foot  and  horse  that  had  gone  against  the  provinces 
of  Zacatami  and  Jalacingo  arrived,  from  whom  I  learned 
that  they  had  fought  with  some  of  the  natives,  and  that 
at  last  the  latter  had  sued  for  peace,  some  of  them  volun- 
tarily, and  others  through  compulsion  ;  and  they  brought 
to  me  certain  caciques  of  those  provinces,  whom  I  par- 
doned in  your  Majesty's  name,  and  sent  home,  notwith- 
standing they  deserved  punishment  for  their  rebellion  and 
murder  of  Christians,  upon  their  promise  of  good  be- 
haviour hereafter,  and  that  they  would  prove  loyal  vas- 
sals to  your  Majesty.  Thus  these  difficulties  were 
brought  to  a  close,  by  means  of  which  the  service  of 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  201 

your  Majesty  was  much  promoted,  as  well  as  in  the 
pacification  of  the  natives  in  that  quarter,  as  from  the 
security  obtained  for  the  Spaniards  when  compelled  to 
.  go  or  come  through  those  provinces  to  or  from  the  town 
of  Vera  Cruz. 

The  second  day  after  Christmas  I  reviewed  my  forces 
in  the  city  of  Tascaltecal,  and  found  forty  horse  and  five 
hundred  foot — eighty  of  them  archers  and  musketeers, 
together  with  eight  or  nine  field-pieces  and  a  very  small 
quantity  of  powder ;  and  I  divided  the  horse  into  four 
companies  of  ten  each,  and  of  the  foot  I  formed  nine 
captaincies,  each  consisting  of  sixty  Spaniards.  After 
this  inspection,  when  all  were  mustered  together,  I  ad- 
dressed them  in  the  following  manner : 

I  said  that  they  must  know  as  well  as  myself  it  was 
to  promote  the  service  of  your  sacred  Majesty  that  we 
had  established,  colonies  in  this  country  ;  and  they  also 
knew  that  all  the  natives  of  it  had  acknowledged  them- 
selves your  Majesty's  vassals,  and  as  such  had  for  some 
time  persevered  in  receiving  good  offices  from  us,  and 
we  the  same  from  them ;  and  that  without  any  cause, 
the  people  of  Culua,  including  those  in  the  great  city  of 
Temixtitan,  and  all  the  other  provinces  subject  to  them, 
had  not  only  rebelled  against  your  Majesty,  but  even 
murdered  several  persons  who  were  our  kindred  and 
friends,  and  had  driven  us  entirely  out  of  their  land  ; 
and  that  they  must  likewise  recollect  what  dangers  and 
toils  we  had  encountered,  and  at  the  same  time  be  sensi- 
ble of  how  great  service  it  would  be  to  God  and  your 
Catholic  Majesty  to  endeavor  to  recover  what  had  been 
lost,  having  on  our  part  the  justest  cause  and  the  best 
reasons  for  so  doing,  as  we  should  both  contend  for  the 
increase  of  our  faith  against  a  barbarous  nation,  and  to 


202  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

promote  the  service  of  your  Majesty.  Induced  also  by 
a  regard  to  our  own  safety,  and  having  the  co-operation 
of  many  of  the  friendly  natives,  there  were  powerful 
causes  to  animate  our  hearts,  and  I  therefore  begged 
them  to  engage  cheerfully  in  the  enterprise  and  take  fresh 
courage.  I  added  that  I  had  in  your  Majesty's  name 
issued  certain  ordinances  to  preserve  good  order  and 
regulate  the  affairs  of  the  war,  which  I  had  caused  to  be 
immediately  published,  and  I  also  begged  them  to  ob- 
serve and  comply  with  these  regulations,  as  it  would 
redound  much  to  the  service  of  God  and  your  Majesty. 

They  all  promised  to  do  what  I  requested,  and  to 
comply  with  the  ordinances,  declaring  that  they  would 
die  with  pleasure  in  defence  of  our  faith  and  in  the  ser- 
vice of  your  Majesty,  or  recover  what  had  been  lost  and 
revenge  the  treachery  of  which  the  people  of  Temixtitan 
and  their  allies  had  been  guilty  towards  us.  Thereupon, 
in  the  name  of  your  Majesty,  I  expressed  my  satisfaction, 
and  thus  we  returned  with  great  pleasure  to  our  quarters 
on  the  day  of  the  review. 

The  following  day,  which  was  that  of  St.  John  the 
Evangelist,  [Dec.  27th]  I  sent  for  all  the  lords  of  the 
province  of  Tascaltecal,  and  when  they  had  come,  I 
said  to  them  that  they  already  knew  I  was  to  depart  on 
the  next  day  in  order  to  enter  the  territory  of  our  enemies, 
and  that  they  must  be  aware  we  could  not  conquer  the 
city  of  Temixtitan  without  some  brigantines,  which  our 
people  were  then  employed  in  building  there,  and  on  this 
account  I  desired  them  to  supply  the  workmen  and  other 
Spaniards  that  I  left  behind,  with  whatever  was  neces- 
sary for  this  business,  and  treat  them  kindly,  as  they  had 
ever  done  ;  and  that  they  should  be  in  readiness  when- 
ever I  should  send  from  the  city  of  Tesaico,  [Tezcuco,] 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  203 

(if  God  gave  us  victory)  for  the  timbers  and  decks  and 
other  necessary  things  belonging  to  the  brigantines. 
They  promised  me  to  do  so,  and  expressed  a  desire  to 
send  their  warriors  with  me,  declaring  that  when  the 
brigantines  were  removed,  they  would  all  go,  with  the 
whole  population  of  their  country,  and  that  they  would 
die  with  me,  or  be  revenged  on  the  Culuans,  their  mortal 
enemies.  The  next  day,  which  was  the  28th  of  De- 
cember, the  day  of  the  Innocents,  I  set  out  with  all  our 
force  drawn  up  in  order,  and  marched  as  far  as  a  place 
called  Tezmoluca,  six  leagues  from  Tascaltecal,  in  the 
province  of  Guajocingo,  the  inhabitants  of  which  have 
always  observed  the  same  friendship  and  alliance  with 
us  as  the  people  of  Tascaltecal :  and  there  we  reposed 
for  the  night. 

In  my  former  despatch,  most  Catholic  Sire,  I  stated 
that  the  people  of  the  provinces  of  Mexico  and  Temix- 
titan,  as  I  was  informed,  had  made  great  preparations 
of  arms,  and  constructed  fosses,  entrenchments  and 
fortresses  to  oppose  our  entrance,  as  they  already  knew 
my  intention  to  return  against  them.  Aware  of  this,  and 
how  skilful  and  ingenious  they  were  in  matters  relating 
to  war,  I  had  often  meditated  in  what  manner  I  could 
take  them  by  surprise.  Since  they  understood  that  we 
possessed  information  of  three  routes  or  avenues,  by  each 
of  which  we  could  enter  their  territory,  I  determined  to 
take  this  one  by  Tezmoluca ;  because,  as  the  pass  over 
the  mountains  on  this  route  was  more  rough  and  cragged 
than  the  others,  I  believed  the  resistance  would  not  be  so 
great,  nor  the  enemy  so  well  prepared.  The  next  day 
after  the  Innocents,  having  heard  mass,  and  committed 
ourselves  to  God,  we  set  forth  from  Tezmoluca,  my-r 
self  leading  the  van,  with  ten  horse  and  sixty    foot, 


204  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

lightly  armed,  composed  of  men  inured  to  war.  We 
pursued  our  route,  leading  up  the  pass  in  the  best 
order  and  the  utmost  regularity,  until  we  had  gone  four 
leagues  from  Tesmoluca,  to  the  summit  of  the  pass, 
where  was  the  boundary  of  Culua ;  and  although  the 
cold  at  that  place  was  the  most  severe  I  had  yet  experi- 
enced, with  much  snow,  we  guarded  against  it  that  night, 
and  the  next  day,  being  Sunday,  we  began  to  descend 
into  the  plain.  I  sent  forward  four  horse  and  three  or 
four  foot  to  reconnoitre  the  country ;  and  when  on  our 
way  down  the  pass,  I  ordered  the  horse  in  front,  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  the  archers  and  musketeers,  and  then  the  rest 
of  the  army ;  being  satisfied  that  however  unprepared 
we  might  find  the  enemy,  they  would  sally  forth  to  at- 
tack us  on  our  route,  using  for  that  purpose  some  cunning 
stratagem  or  artifice  to  annoy  us.  When  the  four  horse- 
men and  four  foot  soldiers  examined  the  road,  they  found 
it  obstructed  with  trees  and  branches,  and  filled  up  and 
encumbered  with  large  and  heavy  pines  and  cj^presses, 
which  appeared  to  have  just  been  cut ;  and  thinking  that 
the  road  beyond  might  not  be  obstructed  in  this  manner, 
they  contrived  to  advance,  but  the  further  they  proceeded 
the  more  obstructions  they  found.  The  horses  advancing 
with  difficulty,  their  fears  increased  as  they  continued 
their  course,  and  when  they  had  in  this  way  proceeded 
a  considerable  distance,  one  of  the  four  horsemen  said 
to  the  others — "Brothers,  let  us  not  go  any  farther,  if  it 
please  you,  but  return  and  inform  the  commander  of  the 
obstructions  that  we  have  found,  and  the  great  danger  to 
which  we  are  exposed  in  not  being  able  to  go  on  with  the 
horses ;  otherwise,  let  us  proceed,  although  by  so  doing 
I  expose  my  life,  as  you  all  do  yours,  until  we  reach  the 
end  of  this  route."     The  others  answered — "  that  his 


CONQUEST   OF   MEXICO.  205 

advice  was  good,  but  it  did  not  appear  to  them  proper  to 
return  to  me  till  they  had  discovered  some  of  the  enemy, 
or  ascertained  how  far  this  road  extended."  They  then 
resumed  their  course,  and  when  they  saw  that  the  road 
continued  a  great  distance,  they  stopped,  and  sent  one 
of  the  foot  soldiers  to'  inform  me  of  what  they  had  dis- 
covered. And  when  I  had  brought  up  the  vanguard 
with  the  cavalry,  commending  ourselves  to  God  we 
proceeded  forward  on  that  road,  and  I  sent  word  to  the 
rear-guard  to  make  great  haste,  and  entertain  no  fears, 
for  we  should  soon  come  out  upon  the  open  land,  free 
from  obstructions.- 

As  soon  as  I  had  overtaken  the  four  horsemen,  we  be- 
gan to  advance  together,  but  not  without  encountering 
serious  impediments  and  difficulties ;  until  at  the  dis- 
tance of  half  a  league  it  pleased  God  that  we  should  enter 
upon  the  open  ground,  and  there  I  took  breath  while 
waiting  for  the  rest  of  the  people  to  come  up.  When 
they  had  arrived,  I  bade  them  give  thanks  to  our  Lord, 
who  had  brought  us  in  safety  to  that  spot  from  whence 
we  could  see  all  the  provinces  of  Mexico  and  Temixtitan, 
both  on  the  lakes  and  around  them.  But  although  we 
regarded  them  with  great  satisfaction,  this  feeling  was 
not  unmixed  with  sadness  when  we  recalled  the  losses 
we  had  experienced  there,  and  we  all  resolved  never  to 
quit  the  country  again  without  victory,  even  should  it 
cost  us  our  lives.  With  this  determination  we  proceeded 
forward  with  as  much  alacrity  as  if  we  had  been  going 
on  a  party  of  pleasure.  As  soon  as  the  enemy  perceived 
us,  they  began  on  a  sudden  to  kindle  signal  fires,  many 
and  large,  throughout  the  country ;  and  I  begged  and 
urged  upon  the  Spaniards  to  do  as  they  had  ever  done, 

and  as  was  expected  from  them,  by  observing  the  utmost 

27 


206  LETTERS   OF   CORTES. 

degree  of  order  and  regularity  on  the  march.  Already 
the  Indians  were  beginning  to  utter  loud  cries  from  their 
dwellings  and  small  villages,  calling  upon  the  whole 
country  to  pour  forth  its  population,  and  attack  us  on  the 
bridges  and  in  the  difficult  passes  on  our  route.  But  we 
advanced  so  rapidly  that  before  they  had  time  to  rally 
their  forces,  we  had  already  descended  to  the  plain. 
They,  however,  planted  several  squadrons  of  Indians  in 
the  road  on  our  front,  and  I  gave  orders  for  fifteen  of  the 
horsemen  to  attack  them,  who  rushed  upon  them  with 
•their  lances  and  destroyed  many  without  any  loss  on  our 
part.  We  continued  our  route  to  the  city  of  Tesaico, 
which  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  cities  in  all 
this  country.  As  the  foot  soldiers  were  somewhat  weary, 
and  it  was  now  evening,  we  lodged  at  a  small  place 
called  Goatepeque,  which  is  subject  to  that  city,  from 
which  it  is  three  leagues  distant ;  we  found  it  deserted 
by  the  inhabitants.  That  night  we  thought  how  very 
large  and  populous  were  this  city  and  province,  (the 
latter  called  Aculuacan,)  which,  it  may  be  safely  be- 
lieved, contained  at  one  time  more  than  a  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  men,*  and  from  whom  we  were  exposed 
to  an  attack.  With  but  ten  horsemen  I  commenced  the 
watch,  and  went  its  rounds  the  first  quarter,  and  took 
care  that  all  the  people  should  be  well  prepared  against 
the  enemy. 

The  next  day,  (Monday,  the  last  day  of  December,) 
we  resumed  our  march  in  the  usual  order ;  and  at  a 
quarter  of  a  league  from  Coatepeque,  being  all  in  great 
perplexity,  reasoning  with  ourselves  whether  the  Tesai- 


*  Tezcuco  at  the  present  day  is  a  populous  city,  and  there  are  numerous  vil« 
lages  in  its  suburbs,  together  with  handsome  farm-houses,  or  haciendas. — L. 


CONQUEST   OF   MEXICO.  207 

cans  would  be  hostile  or  pacific  towards  us,  and  con- 
cluding the  former  to  be  almost  certain,  there  met  us  on 
the  road  four  principal  Indians,  bearing  a  standard  of 
gold  in  the  form  of  a  mace,  weighing  four  marcs  of  gold, 
by  which  they  gave  us  to  understand  that  they  proposed 
peace,  which  God  knows  how  much  we  desired,  and 
how  much  we  stood  in  need  of,  being  so  few  in  number, 
and  so  far  removed  from  all  succor,  in  the  midst  of  the 
forces  of  the  enemy.  As  soon  as  I  discovered  these 
four  Indians,  one  of  whom  I  knew  very  well,  I  caused 
the  army  to  halt,  while  I  advanced  towards  them.  After 
saluting  us,  they  said  to  me  that  they  had  come  on  be- 
half of  the  lord  of  that  city  and  province,  whose  name 
was  Guanacacin,  and  desired  in  his  name  that  I  would 
do  no  injury,  nor  consent  that  any  should  be  done  to  his 
country,  since  they  had  not  been  guilty  of  wrong  towards 
us,  but  that  the  people  of  Temixtitan  were  the  ofFenders  ; 
that  they  wished  to  be  vassals  of  your  Majesty,  and  our 
allies,  desiring  always  to  preserve  our  friendship  ;  and 
that  we  might  proceed  to  their  city  and  learn  by  their 
acts  what  their  sentiments  were  towards  us.  I  answered 
them  by  interpreters,  that  I  was  glad  to  have  peace  and 
friendship  with  them ;  but  that  although  they  excused 
themselves  from  the  guilt  of  the  war  made  upon  us  in 
the  city  of  Temixtitan,  yet  they  knew  well  that  in  certain 
villages  subject  to  them,  five  or  six  leagues  from  the 
city  of  Tesaico,*  they  had  destroyed  at  another  time  five 
of  our  horsemen  and  forty-five  foot,  together  with  more 
than  three  hundred  Indians  of  Tascaltecal,  who  had 
arrived  there  laden  with  goods ;  and  that  a  large  quantity 

*  Tezcuco  was  a  separate  kingdom  from  that  of  Mexico  before  the  arrival  of 
Cortes. — L.    Its  name  is  uniformly  written  by  Cortes  Tesaico. 


208  LETTERS    OP    CORTES. 

of  silver,  gold,  cotton  cloth,  and  other  things  belonging 
to  us,  had  been  seized  by  them  on  that  occasion  ;  that  as 
they  could  offer  no  excuse  for  this  offence,  the  least 
penalty  they  could  suffer  would  be  the  restoration  to  us 
of  what  they  had   taken  ;    and   that  on    these  terms, 
although  they  were  all  deserving  of  death  for  having 
destroyed  the  lives  of  so  many  Christians,  I  would  make 
peace  with  them,  as  they  desired  it ;  but  that  otherwise 
I  should  proceed  against  them  with  the  utmost  rigor. 
They  replied  that  the  Mexican  lord  and  nobles   had 
carried  away  what  had  been  taken  from  our  people,  but 
that  they  would  search  for  all  that  might  have  been  left 
behind,  and  give  it  to  me.     And  they  inquired  whether 
I  would  go  to  the  city  that  day,  or  lodge  in  one  of  two 
villages  in  its  suburbs,  called  Coatinchan  and  Guasuta,* 
which  are  a  league  and  a  half  distant  from  the  city,  but 
connected  with  it  by  a  continued  line  of  population. 
They  desired  the  latter,  as  appeared  from  what  followed. 
I  told  them  that  I  would  not  stop  till  I  had  reached  the 
city  of  Tesaico ;  when  they  remarked  that  we  should  be 
in  good  time,  and  they  would  precede  us  in  order  to  get 
ready  suitable  lodgings  for  the  Spaniards  and  myself. 
They  accordingly  went  away,  and  when  we  had  arrived 
at  the  two  villages,  some  of  their  principal  men  came 
out  to  receive  us,  and  supplied  us  with  food.     At  noon 
we  reached  the  body  of  the  city,  where  we  were  to  lodge 
in  a  large  edifice  that  had  been  the  residence  of  the  father 
of  Guanacacin,  the  lord  of  the  city.     Before  taking  pos- 

*  Coathlinchan  and  Huejotla ;  and  it  appears  as  one  settlement  from  Chiautla 
and  Tezcuco  to  Coatepec,  by  the  continued  line  of  villages  and  haciendas.  In 
Tezcuco  are  still  seen  near  the  church  fragments  of  the  king's  palace,  and  a 
large  reservoir.  In  Huejotla  are  seen  still  larger  ruins,  including  a  wall  of  ad- 
mirable workmanship.— L. — See  Bullock's  Travels  in  Mexico,  Chap.  28th. 


CONQUEST   OF   MEXICO,  209 

session  of  this  palace,  assembling  all  our  people,  I  caused 
it  to  be  proclaimed,  that  "  no  one,  under  pain  of  death, 
should  go  out. of  the  quarters  assigned  to  us  without  ex- 
press permission  from  me."  The  building  was  so  large 
that  it  would  have  accommodated  us  in  the  most  con- 
venient manner,  had  the  number  of  Spaniards  been  twice 
as  great.  I  took  this  precaution  in  order  that  the  in- 
habitants of  the  city  might  feel  secure,  and  remain  in 
their  abodes  ;  for  it  seemed  to  me  that  we  did  not  see  a 
tenth  part  of  the  people  usually  found  in  the  city,  nor 
any  women  or  children — which  was  a  sure  mark  of  a 
state  of  alarm  and  panic. 

The  day  we  entered  that  city,  which  was  New- Year's 
eve,  after  having  been  employed  in  establishing  ourselves 
in  our  quarters,  notwithstanding  we  were  somewhat  sur- 
prised to  see  so  few  people,  and  those  we  did  see  so 
dull  and  stupid,  we  thought  it  was  from  fear  that  they 
did  not  show  themselves  about  the  streets  of  the  city  ; 
and  with  this  reflection  we  were  somewhat  relieved  from 
our  apprehensions.  Scarcely  had  the  evening  arrived, 
however,  when  certain  Spaniards  ascended  several  lofty 
terraces,  from  whence  they  could  survey  the  whole  city, 
and  observed  that  all  the  inhabitants  were  leaving  it, 
some  taking  with  them  their  effects  to  embark  in  their 
canoes  (which  they  call  alcales)  on  the  lake,  and  others 
climbing  the  mountains.  I  instantly  ordered  their  de- 
parture to  be  stopped,  but  as  it  was  already  evening, 
and  would  soon  be  dark,  and  they  made  great  haste  in 
their  movements,  nothing  was  effected.  The  lord  of  the 
city,  whom  I  desired  to  have  in  my  hands  as  a  pledge 
of  our  safety,  fled  with  many  of  his  nobles  to  the  city  of 
Temixtitan,  which  is  six  leagues  distant  by  the  way  of 
the  lake,  and  they  took  with  them  whatever  they  could 


210  LETTERS   OF   CORTES* 

carry  of  their  property.  For  this  purpose,  to  enable 
them  to  execute  their  design  in  safety,  the  messengers  men- 
tioned above  had  been  sent  to  me  to  arrest  my  progress, 
and  prevent  my  doing  injury  to  them  on  entering  the 
city  ;  and  thus,  for  that  night,  they  abandoned  both  us 
and  their  city. 

After  I  had  been  in  this  manner  three  days  in  the  city, 
without  having  encountered  any  Indians,  (as  during  that 
time  they  neither  ventured  to  trust  themselves  in  our 
power,  nor  did  we  care  to  go  far  in  quest  of  them ; 
nevertheless  my  intention  being  to  receive  them  always 
when  they  came  to  desire  peace,  and  at  all  times  to  seek 
peace  with  them,)  there  came  to  confer  with  me  the  lords 
of  Coatinchan,  Guaxuta,  and  Autengo,*  (which  are  three 
very  large  places,  and  are,  as  I  have  already  said,  in- 
corporated with  and  joined  to  this  city,)  who  begged  me 
with  tears  in  their  eyes  to  pardon  them  for  having  been 
absent  from  their  territory ;  declaring  at  the  same  time 
that  they  had  not  fought  against  me,  at  least  of  their  own 
accord,  and  promising  henceforth  to  do  every  thing  I 
should  command  them  in  the  name  of  your  Majesty.  I 
answered  them  by  interpreters,  that  they  had  always 
been  well  treated  by  me,  and  that  in  deserting  their 
country,  and  in  other  respects,  they  were  in  fault ;  that 
since  they  promised  to  be  our  friends,  they  must  return 
to  their  houses,  and  bring  back  their  women  and  chil- 
dren, when  I  would  treat  them  according  to  their  acts. 
They  then  went  away,  as  it  appeared  to  us,  not  very 
well  satisfied. 

When  the  Lord  of  Mexico  and  Temixtitan,  and  all  the 
other  lords  of  Culua,  (the  latter  name  being  applied  to 

*  Coathlinchan,  Huejotla,  and  Atengo ;  the  latter  also  called  Tenango,  Te- 
popula.— L. 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  211 

the  lands  and  provinces  in  these  parts  subject  to  Te- 
mixtitan,)  learned  that  the  caciques  of  these  places  had 
come  to  offer  themselves  as  vassals  of  your  Majesty,  they 
sent  messengers  to  tell  them  that  they  had  done  wrong  ; 
and  that  if  they  had  acted  from  fear,  they  should  reflect 
that  the  people  of  Culua  were  sufficiently  numerous 
and  powerful  to  destroy  the  lives  of  all  the  Spaniards 
and  Tlascallans  in  a  very  short  space  of  time ;  but  if 
they  had  acted  from  a  desire  to  retain  their  lands,  they 
might  leave  them  and  go  to  Temixtitan,  where  they 
would  receive  other  and  better  possessions  and  places  of 
residence.  The -caciques  of  Coatinchan  and  Guaxuta 
took  these  messengers  and  bound  them,  and  delivered 
them  to  me  ;  when  they  immediately  acknowledged  that 
they  had  been  sent  by  the  lords  of  Temixtitan ;  but  that 
it  had  been  for  the  purpose  of  requesting  these  caciques 
to  go  to  that  city  to  act  as  mediators  in  making  peace 
between  them  and  me,  as  they  were  my  friends.  But 
they  of  Coatinchan  and  Guaxuta  denied  that  it  was  so, 
declaring  that  the  people  of  Mexico  and  Temixtitan 
sought  only  war ;  and  although  I  believed  this  was  the 
case,  and  it  proved  to  be  the  truth,  nevertheless  as  I  de- 
sired to  bring  back  the  inhabitants  of  the  great  city  into 
friendship  with  us,  since  on  this  depended  peace  or 
war  with  the  other  provinces  that  had  revolted,  I  caused 
the  messengers  to  be  set  at  liberty,  saying  to  them,  that 
they  need  have  no  fears,  it  being  my  intention  to  allow 
them  to  return  to  Temixtitan  ;  and  I  begged  them  to  in- 
form its  lords  that  I  did  not  seek  war  with  them,  although 
I  had  great  reason  for  so  doing,  but  wished  we  might  be- 
come friends  again  j  and  to  render  my  intentions  the 
more  certain,  and  induce  them  to  return  to  your  Majesty's 
service,  I  informed  them  I  was  well  aware  that  all  those 


212  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

who  took  the  lead  in  the  passed  war  against  us  were 
now  dead;  that  the  past  was  past,  and  they  should 
not  seek  to  give  me  fresh  provocation  to  lay  waste  their 
lands  and  cities,  as  it  would  distress  me  much.  With 
these  words  I  dismissed  them,  and  they  departed,  pro- 
mising to  bring  me  an  answer.  The  caciques  of  Coatin- 
chan,  Guaxuta,  and  myself,  were  by  this  affair  rendered 
greater  friends,  and  bound  together  in  a  closer  confede- 
racy. I  forgave  them  their  past  errors,  and  thus  they 
left  us  well  satisfied. 

After  having  been  seven  or  eight  da^s  in  this  city  of 
Tesaico  without  being  engaged  in  hostilities,  or  encoun- 
tering any  one,  fortifying  our  quarters,  and  regulating 
other  matters  necessary  for  our  defence,  as  well  as  for 
offensive  operations  against  the  enemy  ;  and  finding  that 
they  did  not  come  to  attack  me,  I  sallied  forth  from  the 
city  with  two  hundred  Spaniards,  amongst  whom  were 
eighteen  horse,  thirty  bowmen,  and  ten  musketeers,  to- 
gether with  three  or  four  thousand  Indians,  oUr  allies. 
I  proceeded  along  the  coast  of  the  lake  to  a  city  called 
Iztapalapa,  which  is  by  Water  two  leagues  from  the  great 
city  of  Temixtitan,  and  six  from  Tesaico  ;  it  contains 
about  ten  thousand  families,  and  half  or  two  thirds  of  it 
are  situated  on  the  water.  Its  lord,  who  was  a  brother 
of  Muteczuma,  and  whom  the  Indians  after  the  death  of 
the  latter  had  made  his  successor,  was  the  most  active  in 
making  war  upon  us,  and  driving  us  out  of  the  city.  On 
this  account,  as  well  as  because  I  had  known  its  inhabi- 
tants were  ill  disposed  towards  us,  I  determined  to  pro- 
ceed directly  towards  the  city  of  Iztapalapa.  As  soon  as 
I  was  discovered  by  them,  when  two  leagues  distant,  and 
before  I  had  arrived,  there  appeared  immediately  in  the 
field  some  hostile  Indians,  and  others  in  their  canoes  on 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  213 

the  lake ;  and  thus  we  proceeded  two  leagues,  fighting 
all  the  way,  both  with  those  on  land  and  those  on  the 
water,  until  we  reached  that  city.  When  we  had  arrived 
within  about  two  thirds  of  a  league,  they  opened  a  dike, 
situated  between  the  fresh  and  salt  water  lakes,  as  may 
be  seen  on  the  map  of  the  city  of  Temixtitan  that  I  sent 
to  your  Majesty.  When  the  causeway  or  dike  was 
opened,  the  water  of  the  salt  lake  began  to  flow  with 
great  impetuosity  towards  the  fresh  lake,  although  the 
lakes  are  more  than  half  a  league  distant  from  one 
another  ;  and  not  looking  for  any  deception,  in  our  eager- 
ness for  victory,  we  passed  along  very  well,  and  followed 
the  track  of  the  enemy,  until  we  entered  the  city  at  the 
same  time  with  them.  As  the  people  were  apprised  of 
our  coming,  all  the  houses  on  the  main  land  were  desert- 
ed, and  the  people  with  their  effects  took  refuge  in  the 
houses  on  the  lake,  where  were  assembled  all  those  who 
had  fled  before  us,  who  fought  with  great  desperation. 
But  it  pleased  our  Lord  to  give  such  strength  to  his 
people  that  we  pursued  them  into  the  water,  sometimes 
where  it  was  breast  deep,  in  other  places  swimming ; 
and  we  took  many  of  their  houses  situated  on  the  water. 
More  than  six  thousand  of  the  people,  men,  women,  and 
children,  perished  ;  for  the  Indians,  our  allies,  seeing  we 
were  victorious,  would  listen  to  nothing,  but  only  cut  to 
the  right  and  left. 

As  night  approached,  I  collected  the  people  and  set 
fire  to  some  of  the  houses ;  and  while  these  were  burn- 
ing, it  seemed  that  our  Lord  inspired  me,  by  bringing  to 
my  recollection  the  causeway  or  mole,  which  we  had 
seen  broken  on  our  route,  and  the  great  danger  in  which 
it  placed  us  ;  and  hastening  with  my  collected  force,  I 
departed  out  of  the  city,  it  being  already  quite  dark. 

23 


214  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

When  we  reached  the  water,  at  almost  nine  in  the  even- 
ing, it  was  so  deep,  and  the  current  so  strong,  that  we 
passed  it  half  running  and  half  flying  ;  some  of  our  In- 
dian allies  were  drowned,  and  all  the  spoil  was  lost  that 
had  been  taken  in  the  city.  And  I  assure  your  Ma- 
jesty, that  if  we  had  not  passed  the  water  that  night,  or 
had  remained  in  the  city  three  hours  longer,  none  of 
us  would  have  escaped,*  but  we  should  have  been  sur- 
rounded by  water  without  being  able  to  find  a  passage 
out  in  any  direction.  When  it  was  day-light  we  saw 
that  the  water  of  one  lake  was  on  a  level  with  that  of 
the  other,  and  there  was  no  current ;  and  all  the  salt 
lake  was  covered  with  canoes,  filled  with  warriors, 
thinking  to  take  us  at  this  place.  The  same  day  I  re- 
turned to  Tesaico,  fighting  occasionally  by  the  way  with 
those  who  were  on  the  lake,  although  we  could  do  them 
little  harm,  as  they  escaped  readily  in  their  canoes  ;  and 
arriving  at  the  city  of  Tesaico,  I  found  the  people  I  had 
left  there  perfectly  secure,  without  having  had  a  single 
hostile  encounter  ;  and  our  return  and  victory  gave  them 
much  pleasure.  The  next  day  after  our  return  a  Spa- 
niard died  who  had  come  back  wounded  ;  and  he  was 
the  first  one  killed  in  the  field  by  the  Indians  to  the  pre- 
sent time. 

The  next  day  certain  messengers  came  to  this  city 
from  the  city  of  Otumba,f  and  four  other  cities  adjacent 
to  it,  which  are  four,  five,  and  six  leagues  distant  from 

*  Part  of  the  town  of  Iztapalapa  was  built  on  land,  and  part  on  the  water  ; 
and  the  Indians  broke  the  dikes  that  formed  a  communication  between  the  two 
lakes. — L. 

t  It  bears  the  same  name  at  the  present  day  ;  and  in  its  neighborhood  are  San 
Juan  Teotihuacan,  Ajapusco,  Cuatlanzingo,  (which  was  very  large,)  Osto- 
ticpac,  Tecpayucan,  Jaltepec,  Nopaltepec,  and  the  hacienda  of  Ometusco. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  215 

Tesaico.  They  asked  me  to  pardon  their  offence,  if 
they  had  committed  any,  in  regard  to  the  late  war  that 
had  been  waged  against  me  ;  for  it  was  at  Otumba  that 
the  whole  power  of  Mexico  and  Temixtitan  had  been 
concentrated,  with  the  hope  of  finally  crushing  us,  at  the 
time  we  had  been  driven  out  of  the  great  city.  These 
Otumbans  saw  plainly  that  they  could  not  deny  their 
guilt,  but  they  excused  themselves  by  saying  that  they 
had  obeyed  the  commands  of  their  superiors ;  and  in 
order  to  induce  me  to  favor  them,  they  declared  that 
the  lords  of  Temixtitan  had  sent  messengers  to  them, 
bidding  them  to  adhere  to  their  cause,  and  form  no 
friendship  with  us,  otherwise  they  would  come  and  de- 
stroy them  ;  but  that  they  preferred  to  be  the  vassals  of 
your  Majesty,  and  to  obey  my  commands.  I  answered, 
that  they  were  well  aware  of  their  past  offences,  and  in 
order  that  I  should  pardon  them,  and  believe  what  they 
said,  they  must  first  bring  to  me  as  prisoners  the  mes- 
sengers of  whom  they  had  spoken,  and  all  the  natives  of 
Mexico  and  Temixtitan  that  were  in  their  country  ;  and 
that  on  no  other  conditions  would  I  pardon  them  ;  that 
they  should  return  to  their  abodes  and  occupy  them,  and 
show  by  their  actions  that  they  were  good  subjects  of 
your  Majesty.  Though  we  exchanged  a  few  more 
words,  they  could  not  induce  me  to  change  my  determi- 
nation ;  and  so  they  returned  to  their  country,  assuring 
me  that  they  would  always  do  what  I  desired  ;  and  from 
that  time  they  have  ever  proved  to  be  loyal  and  obe- 
dient in  the  service  of  your  Majesty. 

In  my  former  despatch,  most  fortunate  and  excellent 
Prince,  I  informed  your  Majesty  that  at  the  time  they 
routed  and  drove  us  from  the  city  of  Temixtitan,  I  took 
with  me  a  son  and  two  daughters  of  Muteczuma,  to- 


216  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

gether  with  the  lord  of  Tesaico,*  named  Cacamacin,  and 
his  two  brothers,  and  many  other  caciques,  all  of  whom 
perished  at  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  (though  of  the  same 
nation,  and  some  even  the  lords  of  those  who  destroyed 
them,)  with  the  exception  of  the  two  brothers  of  Caca- 
macin, who  by  great  good  fortune  were  enabled  to  make 
their  escape.  One  of  these  brothers,  named  Ipacsuchil, 
otherwise  called  Cucascacin,  (who  had  been  before  made 
lord  of  the  city  of  Tesaico  and  the  province  of  Aculua- 
can,  by  me,  in  the  name  of  your  Majesty,  and  by  the  ad- 
vice of  Muteczuma,)  at  the  time  when  I  reached  the 
province  of  Tascaltecal,  being  then  in  the  condition  of  a 
prisoner,  got  liberated  and  returned  to  the  city  of  Te- 
saico, where  another  brother  named  Guanacacin,  men- 
tioned above,  had  been  created  lord.  It  is  said  that 
Cacascacin  suffered  death  at  the  hands  of  this  brother 
in  the  following  mariner  :  When  he  arrived  at  Tesaico, 
the  guards  seized  him,  and  gave  information  to  Guana- 
cacin, the  lord,  who  communicated  it  to  the  lord  of  Te- 
mixtitan.  The  latter,  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  the  arrival 
of  Cucascacin,  could  not  believe  that  he  had  escaped 
from  us,  but  imagined  that  he  would  return  to  our  camp 
when  he  should  have  obtained  intelligence  of  importance 
to  carry  with  him  ;  he  therefore  sent  immediate  orders 
to  Guanacacin  to  put  Cucascacin,  his  brother,  to  death, 
who  did  not  fail  to  execute  the  command  without  delay. 
The  other  brother,  who  was  the  youngest,  remained  with 
me,  and  as  he  was  quite  a  youth,  his  interco*urse  with 
us  produced  a  greater  impression  on  his  mind ;  and  he 
became  a  Christian,f  taking  the  name  of  Don  Fernando. 

*  Cacamacin  was  a  relative  of  Muteczuma,  and  his  tributary,  being  a  son  of 
Nezahualpilli,  with  whom  the  independence  of  the  province  ceased,  it  falling 
under  the  power  of  Muteczuma. — L. 

t  This  was  the  most  celebrated  conversion  next  to  that  of  the  four  lords  of 
Tlascala. — L. 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  217 

At  the  time  I  left  the  province  of  Tascaltecal  for 
Mexico  and  Temixtitan,  he  remained  there  with  seve- 
ral Spaniards ;  and  I  shall  hereafter  inform  your  Majesty 
of  what  afterwards  occurred  to  him. 

The  day  following  my  return  from  Iztapalapa  to  the 
city  of  Tesaico,  I  determined  to  despatch  Gonzalo  de 
Sandoval,  alguazil  mayor  of  your  Majesty,  in  command 
of  twenty  horsemen  and  two  hundred  foot  soldiers,  to- 
gether with  bowmen,  musketeers,  and  men  armed  with 
sword  and  buckler,  to  accomplish  two  very  necessary 
purposes  ;  first,  to  escort  out  of  this  province  certain 
messengers  that  I  proposed  to  send  to  the  city  of  Tes- 
caltecal,  to  ascertain  what  progress  had  been  made  on 
the  thirteen  brigantines  which  were  building  there,  and 
to  provide  things  necessary  both  for  the  men  stationed 
at  Vera  Cruz,  as  well  as  for  my  own  company  ;  and  in 
the  second  place,  to  render  secure  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try, so  that  the  Spaniards  could  come  and  go  without 
danger ;  since  heretofore  we  were  unable  to  leave  the 
province  of  Aculuacan  without  passing  through  the  ene- 
my's country,  nor  could  the  Spaniards  at  Vera  Cruz 
and  other  places  come  to  us  without  great  peril  from  the 
enemy.  I  also  directed  the  alguazil  mayor,  that  after 
he  had  escorted  the  messengers  to  a  place  of  safety,  he 
should  go  to  a  province  called  Calco,  bordering  on  that 
of  Aculuacan,  in  order  to  obtain  a  confirmation  of  the 
statement  that  the  people  of  that  province  were  desirous, 
although  belonging  to  the  Culuan  league,  to  surrender 
themselves  as  vassals  of  your  Majesty,  and  that  they 
were  prevented  from  doing  so  by  reason  of  a  garrison  of 
Culuans  that  existed  amongst  them. 

The  captain  departed,  and  with  him  went  all  the  In- 
dians of  Tascaltecal  who  had  transported  our  baggage, 


218  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

and  others  who  had  come  to  our  aid,  and  had  taken  some 
of  the  spoils  of  war.  The  latter  proceeded  a  consider- 
able distance  in  front,  Sandoval  believing  that  when  the 
enemy  discovered  the  Spaniards  to  be  in  the  rear  they 
would  not  dare  to  make  an  attack.  But  as  soon  as  the 
people  in  the  towns  on  the  lake  and  along  the  coast  who 
were  unfriendly  to  us  espied  the  Tascaltecans,  they  at- 
tacked them  in  their  rear,  stripped  them  of  their  spoil, 
and  even  killed  some  of  them.  As  soon  as  the  captain 
came  up  with  the  cavalry  and  the  foot,  he  rushed  upon 
the  enemy,  assailing  them  with  spears,  and  destroyed 
many  of  their  number ;  those  who  escaped  took  refuge 
on  the  lake  and  in  the  villages  on  its  borders.  The  In- 
dians of  Tascaltecal  pursued  their  way  to  their  own 
country  with  what  they  had  saved,  together  with  the 
messengers  I  had  sent ;  and  when  all  had  reached  a 
place  of  safety,  Gonzalo  de  Sandoval  took  the  road  to  the 
province  of  Calco,  which  was  not  far  distant.  The  next 
morning  many  of  the  enemy  assembled  to  go  forth  and 
attack  him  ;  and  when  some  of  them  were  in  one  part  of 
the  field,  and  others  in  others,  our  people  fell  upon  them 
briskly,  and  two  squadrons  with  the  cavalry  com- 
pletely routed  them,  so  that  in  a  short  time  they  aban- 
doned the  field  to  our  men,  who  pursued  with  fire  and 
sword.* 

After  this  the  road  being  cleared,  the  inhabitants  of 
Calco  came  forth  to  receive  the  Spaniards  ;  and  on  both 
sides  congratulations  were  freely  exchanged.  The  prin- 
cipal citizens  said  they  wished  to  come  and  see  me,  and 
have  a  conference  with  me ;  so  they  departed  and  came 
to  lodge  at  Tesaico.     When  they  had   arrived,  there 

*  This  battle  was  fought  on  the  plain  over  which  the  road  passes  from  Tetz- 
cuco  to  Chalco. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  219 

visited  me  several  of  the  principal  men  with  two  sons 
of  the  cacique  of  Calco,  and  gave  me  nearly  three  hun- 
dred pesos  of  gold  in  pieces.  The  latter  informed  me  of 
the  death  of  their  father,  and  that  when  he  died  he  told 
them  that  what  disturbed  him  most  was  not  to  be  able  to 
see  me  before  his  death,  and  that  he  had  been  expecting 
many  days  to  see  me  ;  that  he  had  charged  them  to  come 
to  me  as  soon  as  I  arrived  in  the  province,  and  take  me 
for  their  father ;  and  that  when  they  heard  of  my  arrival 
at  the  city  of  Tesaico,  they  immediately  desired  to  come 
and  see  me,  but  that  they  dared  not  from  fear  of  the 
Culuans  ;  nor  should  they  have  ventured  to  come  at  all, 
had  not  the  captain  I  had  sent  visited  their  country  ;  and 
they  requested  me  to  give  them  a  guard  of  Spaniards  to 
enable  them  to  return  in  safety.  They  also  stated  what 
I  knew  to  be  true,  that  neither  in  war  nor  in  peace  had 
they  been  unfriendly  to  me  ;  and  I  also  knew  that  at  the 
time  when  the  Culuans  attacked  the  fortress  and  palace  ' 
at  Temixtitan  and  the  Spaniards  left  there  by  me 
when  I  went  to  look  after  Narvaez  at  Cempoal,  there 
were  two  Spaniards  in  the  country  in  charge  of  a  quan- 
tity of  maize,  which  I  had  ordered  them  to  collect,  whom 
they  took  to  the  province  of  Guajocingo,  because  they 
knew  that  the  people  there  were  my  friends ;  in  order 
by  this  means  to  save  them  from  the  Culuans,  who  killed 
all  the  Spaniards  they  found  out  of  the  palace  at  Temix- 
titan. These  things  and  much  else  they  said  to  me,  with 
tears  in  their  eyes ;  I  thanked  them  for  their  friendly 
disposition  and  acts  of  kindness,  promising  to  do  all  they 
desired,  and  that  they  should  be  well  treated.  And  from 
that  time  to  the  present  they  have  constantly  shown  a 
friendly  spirit,  and  have  proved  very  obedient  in  respect 


220  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

to  every  thing  commanded  them  on  the  part  of  your 
Majesty. 

The  sons  of  the  cacique  of  Chalco,*  and  those  who 
accompanied  them,  being  one  day  at  my  quarters,  re- 
quested that  as  they  wished  to  return  to  their  country,  I 
would  give  them  an  escort  to  enable  them  to  go  in  safety. 
Accordingly  Gonzalo  de  Sandoval  with  a  portion  of  the 
cavalry  and  foot  soldiers  accompanied  them ;  and  I 
directed  him  that  after  he  had  seen  them  safe  in  their 
country,  he  should  go  to  the  province  of  Tascaltecal,  and 
bring  back  with  him  certain  Spaniards  who  were  there, 
and  likewise  Don  Hernando,  the  brother  of  Cacamacin, 
of  whom  I  have  spoken  above.  After  four  or  five  days 
the  alguazil  mayor  returned  with  the  Spaniards,  and 
brought  with  him  the  said  Don  Fernando.  A  few  days 
after  I  learned  that  on  account  of  his  being  a  brother  of 
the  caciques  of  this  city,  the  office  of  cacique  appertained 
to  him,  although  he  had  other  brothers.  For  this  reason, 
as  well  as  because  the  province  was  without  a  cacique, 
Guanacucin,  brother  of  Don  Fernando,  its  lord,  having 
left  it  and  gone  to  the  city  of  Temixtitan ;  and  also  in 
consequence  of  his  being  a  great  friend  to  Christians,  I 
caused  Don  Fernando  to  be  received  as  the  lord  in  your 
Majesty's  name.  The  inhabitants  of  the  city,  although 
at  that  time  there  were  but  few  left  in  it,  acknowledged 
him ;  and  from  thenceforth  many  of  those  who  were  ab- 
sent, and  bad  fled  from  the  city,  began  to  return,  and 
obey  and  serve  Don  Fernando  ;  and  the  city  itself  im- 
proved in  character  as  well  as  increased  greatly  in 
population. 

*  Chalco,  although  it  had  a  cacique  of  its  own,  was  tributary  to  Mexico. — L. 
The  orthography  of  this  name  is  here  changed  in  the  original  from  Calco  to 
Chalco,  as  now  written. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  221 

About  two  days  after  this  there  came  to  me  the  lords 
of  Coatinchan  and  Guaxuta,  and  gave  me  information 
that  there  was  no  doubt  all  the  power  of  Culua  would  be 
brought  against  me  and  the  Spaniards,  the  whole  country 
being  full  of  our  enemies;  and  that  I  must  consider 
whether  they  should  bring  their  women  and  children 
where  I  was,  or  take  them  to  the  mountains,  as  they 
were  filled  with  consternation.  I  encouraged  them,  and 
bade  them  dismiss  their  fears,  and  remain  in  their  houses 
without  making  any  change  ;  adding,  that  nothing  would 
please  me  more  than  to  see  the  Culuans  in  the  field.  I 
charged  them  to  be  vigilant,  placing  their  scouts  and 
sentinels  in  every  quarter,  and  that  as  soon  as  they  saw 
or  heard  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  they  should  im- 
mediately inform  me.  So  they  went  away  with  the  de- 
termination to  do  as  I  had  directed. 

The  same  night  I  got  our  whole  force  in  readiness,  and 
set  many  sentries  and  scouts  in  all  directions  where  it 
seemed  necessary  ;  and  during  the  whole  night  we  had 
no  sleep,  and  thought  of  nothing  else  but  the  enemy, 
both  that  night  and  the  following  day,  in  consequence  of 
what  we  had  been  told  by  the  lords  of  Guaxuta  and 
Guatinchan.  The  next  day  I  learned  that  some  of  the 
hostile  Indians  had  been  prowling  along  the  coast  of  the 
lake  for  the  sake  of  plunder,  and  with  the  expectation  of 
cutting  off  the  Indians  of  Tascaltecal,  who  were  coming 
and  going  in  the  service  of  the  camp  ;  and  I  likewise  as- 
certained that  they  had  confederated  with  two  people 
subject  to  Tesaico,  and  dwelling  near  the  lake,  to  do  us  all 
the  mischief  in  their  power.  I  caused  redoubts,  ditches, 
and  other  works  to  be  constructed  in  that  quarter  as  a 
means  of  defence  ;  and  the  day  after  I  took  twelve  horse, 

two  hundred  foot,  and  two  small  field  pieces,  and  went 

29 


222  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

to  the  place  where  the  enemy  had  been,  about  a  league 
and  a  half  from  the  city.  On  my  way  I  fell  in  with 
certain  spies  of  the  enemy,  and  others  engaged  in  plun- 
der, whom  we  routed  and  pursued,  killing  several  of 
them.  The  survivors  threw  themselves  into  the  water. 
When  we  had  burned  some  of  their  villages,  we  returned 
to  our  quarters  much  gratified  with  our  success.  The 
next  day  three  of  the  chief  men  of  the  towns  came  to  ask 
pardon  for  the  past,  and  begged  I  would  destroy  no  more 
of  their  towns,  promising  no  longer  to  admit  the  people 
of  Temixtitan  into  their  towns.  As  they  were  not  per- 
sons of  much  consideration,  and  were  vassals  of  Don 
Fernando,  I  pardoned  them  in  your  Majesty's  name. 
The  day  following  several  of  these  people  came  to  me 
wounded  and  otherwise  injured,  and  said  that  the  Mexi- 
cans and  Temixtitans  had  returned  to  their  place,  and 
not  meeting  with  the  reception  to  which  they  had  been 
accustomed,  had  ill-treated  them  and  taken  some  of  their 
number  prisoners ;  and  that  if  they  had  not  defended 
themselves,  they  would  all  have  been  made  prisoners. 
They  requested  that  I  would  be  ready  in  case  the  Te- 
mixtitans returned,  to  come  to  their  relief;  and  then 
went  away  to  their  homes. 

The  people  that  I  had  left  in  the  province  of  Tascal- 
tecal,  engaged  in  building  the  brigantines,  received  in- 
telligence that  a  ship  had  arrived  at  the  port  of  Vera 
Cruz,  in  which  besides  the  seamen  there  were  thirty  or 
forty  Spaniards,  eight  horses,  several  archers  and  mus- 
keteers, and  a  quantity  of  powder ;  and  as  they  were 
not  informed  as  to  the  progress  of  the  war,  nor  whether 
they  could  join  us  with  safety,  they  were  in  much  per- 
plexity ;  and  the  Spaniards  who  had  remained  at  Vera 
Cruz  did  not  dare  to  come,  although  they  wished  to  bring 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  223 

me  so  good  news.  When  a  servant  of  mine  who  had 
been  left  at  that  place  perceived  that  some  of  the  men 
were  desirous  of  attempting  to  reach  me,  he  issued  an 
order,  forbidding,  under  a  heavy  penalty,  any  one  leaving 
the  place  until  directions  were  received  from  me.  But 
a  young  man  in  my  service,  being  convinced  that  nothing 
in  the  world  would  give  me  greater  joy  than  to  hear  of 
the  arrival  of  the  ship  and  the  succor  it  had  brought,  set 
out  in  the  night  and  came  to  Tesaico,  although  the  coun- 
try was  unsafe,  and  we  were  much  surprised  to  see  him 
come  in  alive.  The  news  gave  us  much  pleasure,  for 
we  were  in  extreme  need  of  relief. 

The  same  day,  most  Catholic  Sire,  there  arrived  at 
Tesaico  certain  true  men,  messengers  from  the  authori- 
ties at  Chalco,  who  informed  me  that  in  consequence  of 
their  having  offered  themselves  as  vassals  to  your  Ma- 
jesty, all  the  forces  of  Mexico  and  Temixtitan  had  in- 
vaded their  country  to  destroy  them ;  and  that  on  this 
account  they  had  rallied  together  and  got  in  readiness 
all  the  neighboring  people,  and  they  desired  that  I  would 
come  to  their  relief  and  aid  them  in  their  extremity,  for 
they  saw  no  other  way  to  save  themselves.  I  assure 
your  Majesty,  as  I  have  already  done  in  my  former  rela- 
tion, that  next  to  our  toils  and  sufferings,  the  greatest 
source  of  sorrow  I  experienced  was  in  not  having  the 
ability  to  assist  and  relieve  our  Indian  friends,  who  by 
becoming  vassals  of  your  Majesty  had  exposed  them- 
selves to  be  molested  and  annoyed  by  the  people  of 
Culua.  Nevertheless,  both  myself  and  those  with  me 
did  every  thing  in  our  power  to  accomplish  this  purpose, 
for  it  seemed  to  us  that  we  could  in  no  way  serve  your 
imperial  Majesty  more  effectually  than  by  favoring  and 
aiding  your  vassals.     But  at  the  juncture  when  applica- 


224  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

tion  was  made  to  me  by  the  people  of  Chalco,  I  was 
unable  to  do  for  them  what  I  desired ;  I  however  told 
them,  that  since  I  now  wished  to  send  for  the  brigantines, 
and  with  that  view  had  got  ready  all  the  people  of  the 
province  of  Tascaltecal,  from  whence  they  would  be 
brought  in  detached  pieces,  and  should  find  it  necessary 
to  despatch  thither  on  the  same  business  both  horse  and 
foot — I  would  ask  in  my  own  name  the  inhabitants  of 
Guajocingo,  Churultecal,  and  Guacachula,  who  were 
vassals  of  your  Majesty  and  friends  of  ours,  to  go  to 
their  assistance,  as  they  lived  in  the  same  neighborhood  ; 
who  would  send  them  men  for  their  defence,  and  render 
them  secure  until  I  could  come  to  their  relief — this  being 
the  only  succor  I  could  afford  them.  Although  they  did 
not  take  their  leave  as  well  satisfied  as  if  I  had  given 
them  a  Spanish  force,  they  thanked  me,  and  asked  that 
I  would  give  them  a  letter  as  a  voucher,  that  they  might 
solicit  aid  with  greater  confidence  ;  since  between  the 
people  of  Chalco  and  two  of  those  provinces,  being  of 
opposite  parties,  differences  had  always  existed. 

While  I  was  engaged  in  regulating  these  matters,  there 
happened  to  arrive  certain  messengers  from  the  above- 
mentioned  provinces  of  Guajocingo  and  Guacachula,  who 
in  the  presence  of  those  of  Chalco  said,  that  the  lords  of 
those  provinces  had  neither  seen  nor  heard  any  thing  of 
me  since  my  departure  from  Tascaltecal,  although  they 
had  posted  their  scouts  or  sentries  upon  the  mountains 
and  hills  bounding  their  country  and  overlooking  Mexico 
and  Temixtitan,  in  order  that  when  they  saw  many 
smokes,  the  signal  of  war,  they  might  come  to  my  assis- 
tance with  their  vassals  and  people  ;  and  since  within  a 
short  time  they  had  seen  more  smokes  than  usual,  they 
had  come  to  know  how  it  was,  that  in  case  any  necessity 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  225 

existed,  they  might  at  once  get  ready  their  men  of  war. 
I  was  much  gratified,  I  told  them,  with  their  alacrity,  and 
assured  them  that,  thanks  to  our  blessed  Lord,  the  Spa- 
niards and  myself  were  in  good  condition,  constantly 
victorious  against  the  enemy ;  and  that  besides  being 
pleased  with  their  good  disposition  and  presence,  it 
afforded  me  still  greater  satisfaction  to  form  a  union  of 
friendship  between  them  and  the  people  of  Chalco,  whose 
deputies  were  now  present ;  and  I  begged  them,  since 
they  were  both  vassals  of  your  Majesty,  to  become  good 
friends  and  aid  and  assist  one  another  against  the  Culuans, 
who  were  wicked  and  perverse  ;  especially  at  this  time, 
when  the  people  of  Chalco  had  need  of  assistance,  as 
the  Culuans  were  about  to  march  against  them.  Thus 
they  became  friends  and  confederates ;  and  after  they 
had  remained  two  days  with  me  they  departed  cheerful 
and  contented,  and  rendered  mutual  service  to  one  an- 
other. 

Three  days  after,  when  we  knew  that  thirteen  brig- 
antines  had  been  completed,  and  the  people  collected  to 
transport  them,  I  sent  Gonzalo  de  Sandoval,  alguazil 
mayor,  with  fifteen  horse  and  two  hundred  foot,  to  escort 
them  ;  to  whom  I  gave  directions  to  destroy  and  raze  to 
the  ground  a  large  town  subject  to  this  city  of  Tesaico, 
that  lies  contiguous  to  the  boundary  of  the  province  of 
Tascaltecal,  whose  inhabitants  had  killed  five  of  our 
horsemen  and  forty-five  foot  while  on  the  route  from 
Vera  Cruz  to  the  city  of  Temixtitan,  at  the  time  I  was 
besieged  in  it,  unable  to  believe  in  the  possibility  of  so 
great  an  act  of  treason.  When  we  entered  Tesaico  on 
our  return,  we  found  in  the  oratories  or  temples  of  the 
city  the  skins  of  the  five  horses  sewed  up  and  contain- 
ing the  horse-shoes,  and  the  feet  and  hands  of  the  men ; 


226  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

the  skins  being  as  well  tanned  as  could  be  done  in  any 
part  of  the  world,  which  together  with  much  cotton  cloth 
and  the  effects  of  the  Spaniards  were  thus  offered  to  their 
idols.  And  we  found  the  blood  of  our  companions  and 
brothers  spilled  and  sacrificed  in  all  the  towns  and  tem- 
ples; the  occasion  of  much  grief,  as  it  renewed  the 
memory  of  all  our  past  suffering.  The  traitors  of  that 
and  the  adjoining  towns,  at  the  time  the  Christians 
passed  through  them,  gave  them  a  good  reception,  in 
order  to  lull  them  into  security,  for  the  purpose  of  per- 
petrating the  greatest  piece  of  cruelty  that  was  ever 
practised ;  for  whilst  our  men  were  descending  a  de- 
clivity at  a  slow  pace,  all  being  on  foot,  dragging  their 
horses  by  their  bridles,  and  impeded  at  every  step,  the 
enemy,  concealed  in  ambush  on  both  sides  of  the  diffi- 
cult pass,  fell  upon  the  midst  of  them,  killing  some,  and 
taking  others  alive  to  carry  them  to  be  sacrificed  at  Te- 
saico,  and  pluck  out  their  hearts  before  their  idols.  That 
this  was  the  fate  of  some  of  them,  appears  from  the  fact 
that  when  the  alguazil  mayor  abovementioned  passed 
that  way,  certain  Spaniards  that  accompanied  him  dis- 
covered in  a  house  of  a  village  between  Tesaico  and 
where  the  Christians  were  killed  and  made  prisoners, 
the  following  words  written  with  coal  on  a  white  wall : 
"  Here  the  unfortunate  Juan  Yuste  was  a  prisoner."* 
This  person  was  a  cavalier,  one  of  the  five  horsemen  of 
the  party ;  and  the  sight  of  these  words,  without  doubt, 
filled  the  hearts  of  all  who  observed  them  with  profound 
grief.  The  alguazil  mayor  having  arrived  at  this  town, 
the  inhabitants,  conscious  of  their  great  guilt,  began  to 
seek  refuge  in  flight,   and  the  Spanish  horse  and  foot 

*  It  was  the  town  of  Zultepec  in  which  this  discovery  was  made.    Juan  de 
Yuste  was  the  man  who  advised  Narvaez  to  seize  Juan  Velazquez. — L, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  227 

with  our  Indian  friends  pursued  them,  killing  many, 
and  taking  a  large  number  of  women  and  children  pri- 
soners, who  were  condemned  to  slavery  ;  but  moved  by 
compassion,  he  endeavored  as  much  as  possible  to  spare 
their  lives  ;  and  before  his  departure  from  the  place,  he 
caused  the  survivors  to  be  collected  together,  and  put 
them  in  possession  of  the  town,  which  at  this  time  is  very 
populous,  and  its  inhabitants  regretful  of  the  past. 

The  alguazil  mayor  passed  on  five  or  six  leagues  to  a 
village  of  Tascaltecal,  the  nearest  to  the  border  of  Culua, 
where  he  found  the  Spaniards  and  people  prepared  to 
transport  the  brigantines.  The  day  after  his  arrival, 
they  set  out  from  thence  with  the  planks  and  cross-timbers, 
which  more  than  eight  thousand  men  were  engaged  in 
transporting  ;  a  sight  wonderful  to  behold,  and  as  it  ap- 
pears to  me,  to  hear  of,  the  transportation  of  thirteen 
vessels  eighteen  leagues  by  land  ;  and  I  assure  your  Ma- 
jesty that  from  the  advance  guard  to  the  rear  was  a  dis- 
tance of  full  two  leagues.  When  they  began  to  move, 
eight  horsemen  and  one  hundred  Spanish  foot  went  be- 
fore ;  and  in  the  van,  and  along  the  flanks,  were  more 
than  ten  thousand  men  of  war,  commanded  by  captains, 
at  the  head  of  whom  were  Yutecad  (Aientecatl)  and 
Teutipil,  two  of  the  principal  chiefs  of  Tascaltecal ;  in 
the  rear  guard  came  another  hundred  and  more  Spa- 
niards, with  eight  horsemen,  and  ten  thousand  men  of 
war,  well  disposed,  commanded  by  Chichimecatecle, 
one  of  the  principal  men  of  that  province,  together  with 
other  captains  who  accompanied  him.  At  the  time  they 
first  set  out,  Chichimecatl  commanded  the  van  with  the 
plank,  and  the  two  other  captains  brought  up  the  rear  with 
the  cross-timbers ;  but  when  entering  the  territory  of 
Culua,  the  masters  of  the  brigantines  directed  the  cross 
timbers  to  be  carried  in  front,  and  the  plank  in  the  rear> 


228  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

as  the  latter  would  occasion  most  embarrassment  in  case 
of  their  meeting  with  obstructions,  which  was  more  likely 
to  occur  in  front  than  rear.  But  Chichimecatl,  who 
had  charge  of  the  planks,  and  had  always  led  the  van 
with  his  warriors,  took  offence  at  this  arrangement,  and 
it  was  a  hard  matter  to  induce  him  to  consent  to  be  left 
in  the  rear  guard,  because  he  courted  whatever  danger 
might  occur  in  the  transportation  ;  and  when  he  finally 
yielded  to  the  arrangement,  he  was  not  willing  that  any 
Spaniards  should  remain  in  the  rear  guard,  as  he  was  a 
man  of  great  energy  and  sought  to  gain  honor  to  him- 
self. The  same  captains  had  under  their  charge  two 
thousand  Indians  loaded  with  provisions. 

It  was  in  this  order,  and  according  to  this  arrangement 
that  they  took  up  the  line  of  march,  in  which  they  con- 
sumed three  days,  and  on  the  fourth  entered  this  city 
[Tezcuco]  with  great  rejoicing  and  noise  of  kettle-drums, 
when  I  went  out  to  receive  them.  As  I  have  mentioned 
above,  the  people  stretched  out  to  so  great  a  distance, 
that  from  the  time  those  in  front  began  to  enter  until  the 
last  had  come  up,  more  than  six  hours  had  passed  with- 
out breaking  the  line  of  people.  After  they  had  arrived, 
and  I  had  expressed  my  gratification  to  the  caciques  for 
their  good  services,  I  provided  quarters  for  them  together 
with  the  best  supplies  that  could  be  procured.  They 
assured  me  that  they  had  come  with  a  strong  desire  to 
engage  with  the  Culuans,  and  that  I  should  see  that 
whatever  might  be  my  commands,  they  and  their  people 
had  come  with  the  desire  and  determination  to  be  re- 
venged, or  die  with  us.  I  thanked  them,  and  begged 
they  would  take  some  repose,  promising  that  I  would 
soon  give  them  their  hands  full.* 

*  Yo  les  di  las  gracias,  y  dije  que  reposasen,  y  que  presto  les  daria  las  manos 
Ucnas. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  229 


CHAPTER  IL 

After  all  the  warriors  of  Tascaltecal  had  reposed  in 
Tesaico  three  or  four  days,  (when  it  appeared  manifest 
that  compared  with  others  of  the  country  they  were  a 
superior  people,)  I  ordered  to  be  in  readiness  twenty-five 
horse,,  three  hundred  footr  and  fifty  archers  and  muske- 
teers, with  six  small  field-pieces,  and  without  saying 
aught  to  any  one  as  to  our  destination,  I  left  the  city  at 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and  with  me  went  the  cap- 
tains abovementioned,  and  more  than  thirty  thousand 
men,  arranged  in  squadrons  according  to  their  manner. 
At  four  leagues  from  this  city,  when  it  was  hardly  dark, 
we  encountered  a  squadron  of  the  enemy's  warriors ; 
our  cavalry  at  once  broke  through  them,  and  we  put 
them  to  route.  The  Tlascallans,  as  they  are  swift  of 
foot,  followed  us,  and  many  of  the  enemy  were  slain ; 
that  night  we  slept  on  the  field,  keeping  a  strict  watch. 
Th^  next  morning  we  resumed  our  march,  and  I  in- 
formed no  one  whither  it  was  my  intention  to  go,  because 
I  feared  lest  some  of  the  Tesaicans  who  were  with  us 
should  give  information  of  my  plans  to  those  of  Mexico 
and  Temixtitan,  as  I  could  not  feel  entirely  secure  of 
their  fidelity.  "We  arrived  at  a  village  called  Jultoca, 
situated  in  the  midst  of  a  lake,  and  around  it  we  found 
many  large  ditches  full  of  water ;  it  was  so  strongly  for- 
tified that  our  cavalry  could  not  effect  an  entrance,  and 
the  enemy  uttered  many  loud  cries,  discharging  upon  us 

great  numbers  of  darts  and  arrows ;  but  the  infantry 

30 


230  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

succeeded  in  entering  the  place,  though  with  great  diffi- 
culty, and  drove  out  the  inhabitants  and  consumed  a 
great  part  of  the  town  with  fire.  The  same  night  we 
went  to  sleep  at  a  league's  distance  from  the  village ; 
and  at  day-break,  resuming  our  route,  we  fell  in  with 
the  enemy,  who  at  a  distance  began  to  utter  loud  cries, 
or  shouts,  as  they  are  wont  to  do  in  war,  which  are  cer- 
tainly terrible  to  hear.  We  pursued  them,  and  in  our 
course  reached  a  large  and  beautiful  city  called  Guati- 
clan,  which  we  found  deserted  by  its  inhabitants,  where 
we  lodged  that  night. 

The  next  day  we  continued  to  advance,  and  arrived 
at  another  city  called  Tenainca,  where  we  met  with  no 
resistance  ;  and  without  stopping  we  passed  on  to  ano- 
ther called  Acapuzalco  ;  all  of  them  are  on  the  lake. 
We  did  not  remain  in  the  latter,  because  I  desired  very 
much  to  reach  another  city  which  is  near  it,  called  Ta- 
cuba,  in  the  vicinity  of  Temixtitan.  When  we  had  ap- 
proached within  a  short  distance  of  that  city,  we  found 
it  surrounded  by  ditches  or  canals,  and  the  enemy  close 
at  hand ;  as  soon  as  we  saw  them  we  and  our  allies  at- 
tacked them  vigorously,  and  entered  the  place,  killing 
some  and  driving  out  others.  As  it  was  now  almost 
evening,  we  did  nothing  more  that  night  than  to  take 
lodgings  in  a  house  that  was  large  enough  to  contain  us 
all  very  conveniently.*  At  day-break  our  Indian  friends 
began  to  pillage  and  burn  the  city,  except  the  building 
in  which  we  had  lodged  ;  and  they  were  so  diligent  that 

*  The  town  of  Tacuba  now  belongs  to  the  cacique  Don  Josef  Muteczuma,  a 
descendant  of  the  emperors;  and  the  houses  which  are  above  referred  to,  were 
those  of  the  emperor.  This  place  in  the  Mexican  is  called  Tlacupa,  (or  Tlaco- 
pan,)  and  was  the  capital  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Tecpanecans,  and  subsequently 
was  suhjected  by  Ahuir. —  L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  231 

nearly  a  quarter  of  it  was  consumed.  They  did  this 
because  when  we  were  before  driven  out  of  Temixtitan, 
in  passing  through  this  place  its  inhabitants  joined  with 
those  of  Temixtitan  in  making  cruel  war  upon  us,  and 
destroyed  the  lives  of  many  Spaniards. 

During  the  six  days  that  we  were  in  the  city  of  Ta- 
cuba,  there  was  not  one  in  which  we  did  not  have  many 
rencounters  and  skirmishes  with  the  enemy.  The 
Tlascallan  captains  and  their  men  sent  many  challenges 
to  the  Mexicans,  and  they  fought  one  another  with  great 
valor,  exchanging  words  together,  uttering  threats  and 
injurious  expressions  that  were  curious  to  hear  ;  and  du- 
ring this  time  many  of  the  enemy  were  constantly  fail- 
ing, without  any  loss  on  our  side,  although  we  several 
times  passed  into  the  streets  and  on  the  bridges  of  the 
city,  where  being  strongly  fortified  they  made  a  stout 
resistance.  They  often  pretended  to  invite  us  to  enter 
the  city  [of  Mexico],  saying,  "  Go  in,  go  in,  and  enjoy 
yourselves ;"  and  at  another  time  they  said  to  us,  "  Do 
you  think  there  is  now  a  second  Muteczuma  to  do  every 
thing  you  wish  ?"  Whilst  these  speeches  were  passing, 
I  came  to  a  bridge  which  they  had  abandoned,  and  see- 
ing them  on  the  other  side,  I  beckoned  to  our  people  to 
be  silent ;  and  the  enemy,  perceiving  that  I  wished  to 
speak  to  them,  likewise  commanded  their  people  to  be 
quiet.  I  then  asked  them,  "  Why  they  were  so  foolish 
as  to  seek  their  own  ruin  ?"  and  "  that  if  there  was 
amongst  them  any  principal  chief  from  the  city,  he  should 
make  his  appearance,  as  I  wished  to  speak  to  him." 
They  answered,  "  that  the  whole  multitude  of  warriors 
that  I  saw  there  were  chiefs,  and  that  I  might  therefore 
say  what  I  pleased."     When  they  found  I  made  no  re- 


232  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

ply,  they  began  to  load  me  with  reproaches ;  at  the  same 
time  some  one  of  our  men  exclaimed,  "  Let  them  die  of 
hunger,  and  let  us  not  suffer  them  to  leave  the  city  in 
■quest  of  food."  They  retorted,  "  that  they  were  in  no 
want,  and  that  when  they  were  they  would  eat  us  and 
the  Tlascallans."  One  of  them  took  some  cakes  of 
maize  and  reached  it  towards  us,  saying,  "  Take  these 
and  eat  them,  for  we  have  an  abundance  besides  ;"  and 
then  began  to  utter  loud  cries,  and  to  attack  us. 

As  my  visit  to  this  city  of  Tacuba  had  been  chiefly 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  parley  with  the  Mexicans, 
and  to  ascertain  their  disposition ;  and  as  my  presence 
there  had  advanced  nothing,  I  determined  at  the  end  of 
six  days  to  return  to  Tesaico,  in  order  to  hasten  the  put- 
ting together  and  completion  of  the  brigantines  on  the 
land,  and  to  launch  them  into  the  water.  The  day  we 
set  out  on  our  return,  we  came  to  sleep  at  the  city  of 
Goatitan,  of  which  mention  is  made  above,  and  the  ene- 
my continually  pursued  us ;  our  cavalry  charged  upon 
them  from  time  to  time,  and  took  several  prisoners. 
The  next  day  we  resumed  our  march,  and  when  the 
enemy  saw  us  returning,  they  ascribed  it  to  fear,  and 
great  numbers  of  them  rallied  and  pursued  us.  As  soon 
as  I  perceived  this,  I  ordered  the  foot  to  advance  and 
continue  the  march  without  interruption,  followed  in 
their  rear  by  five  horse,  while  I  should  remain  behind 
with  twenty  others,  six  of  whom  I  directed  to  lie  in  am- 
bush in  one  place,  six  more  in  another,  and  five  in  ano- 
ther, while  I  with  the  remaining  three  should  occupy 
another ;  that  when  the  enemy  had  passed  us,  supposing 
that  we.  had  all  gone  on  together,  on  hearing  the  counter- 
sign, "  Santiago"  they  should  rush  forward  and  attack 
them  in  their  rear.     Accordingly  as  soon  as  it  was  time, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  233 

we  sallied  forth  and  fell  upon  the  enemy  with  our  lances, 
pursuing  them  about  two  leagues,  over  ground  as  level 
as  the  palm  of  the  hand,  in  very  handsome  style.  Thus 
many  of  them  perished  beneath  our  hands  and  those  of 
our  Indian  allies ;  so  they  desisted  from  pursuing  us, 
and  we  continued  our  march  until  we  overtook  the  main 
body.  We  slept  that  night  at  a  pretty  village  called 
Aculman,  two  leagues  from  the  city  of  Tesaico  ;  and  the 
next  day  resuming  our  route,  we  entered  that  city,  where 
we  were  well  received  by  the  alguazil  mayor,  whom  I 
had  left  in  command,  and  by  the  whole  people,  who 
were  much  pleased  with  our  arrival ;  since  from  the  day 
we  left  there  they  had  heard  nothing  of  us,  or  of  what 
had  happened  to  us,  which  they  were  very  desirous  of 
knowing.  The  day  after  our  return,  the  Tlascallans 
asked  permission  of  me  to  go  home,  and  they  went  away 
well  satisfied,  taking  with  them  considerable  spoil  of  the 
enemy. 

Two  days  after  our  return  to  this  city  of  Tezcuco, 
there  came  to  me  certain  Indians,  messengers  from 
Chalco,  who  said  they  had  been  directed  to  inform  me 
that  the  Mexicans  had  marched  against  them  and  de- 
signed to  destroy  them,  and  they  desired  me  to  send 
them  succor,  as  they  had  asked  on  former  occasions.  I 
immediately  despatched  thither  Gonzalo  de  Sandoval 
with  twenty  horse  and  three  hundred  foot,  charging  him 
to  make  great  haste,  and  when  arrived  there  to  give  all 
the  aid  in  his  power  to  those  vassals  of  your  Majesty 
and  our  allies.  Having  arrived  at  Chalco,  he  found 
many  people  assembled,  both  of  that  province  and  of 
Guajocingo  and  Guacachula,  who  were  expecting  him  ; 
and  when  he  had  directed  them  what  to  do,  they  departed 
and  took  the  road  to  a  village  called  Guastepeque,  where 


234  LETTERS    OP    CORTES. 

the  Culuans  had  a  garrison,  and  from  whence  they  had 
done  much  injury  to  the  people  of  Chalco.  At  a  town 
on  the  route  the  enemy  appeared  in  considerable  force  i 
but  as  our  allies  were  numerous,  and  had  besides  the 
advantage  of  the  Spanish  horse  and  foot,  they  attacked 
them  at  once,  and  drove  them  from  the  fields,  pursuing 
them  with  great  slaughter.  They  took  up  their  quarters 
for  the  night  in  the  same  town  before  reaching  Guaste- 
peque,  and  set  out  the  next  day.  When  they  had  arrived 
at  Guastepeque,  the  Culuans  began  to  attack  the  Spa- 
niards, who  in  a  short  time  put  them  to  flight,  and  drove 
them  with  slaughter  out  of  the  place.  The  horsemen 
then  dismounted  in  order  to  obtain  forage  for  their  horses 
and  to  get  rest.  While  thus  off  their  guard  the  enemy 
came  upon  them,  approaching  even  to  the  place  where 
they  were  reposing,  uttering  loud  and  fearful  cries> 
throwing  stones,  clubs  and  arrows ;  the  Spaniards  seized 
their  arms,  and  with  our  allies  rushed  in  great  haste  upon 
the  enemy,  and  again  drove  them  from  the  place,  pur- 
suing them  more  than  a  league,  and  killing  many  of  their 
number.  They  returned  that  night  much  fatigued  to 
Guastepeque,  where  they  rested  two  days. 

At  this  time  the  alguazil  mayor  learned  that  in  a  town 
somewhat  farther  on,  called  Acapictla,  there  was  a  large 
force  of  the  enemy ;  he  determined  to  go  there  and  dis- 
cover whether  they  were  inclined  to  peace.  The  town 
was  strongly  fortified,*  and  situated  on  an  eminence, 
inaccessible  to  cavalry ;  and  as  soon  as  the  Spaniards 
arrived  there,  the  inhabitants  without  any  delay  com- 
menced hostilities  by  throwing  down  stones  upon  the 
men  ;  and  although  the  alguazil  mayor  had  with  him 

*  As  it  is  at  this  day,  although  it  is  buried  in  profound  repose,  like  the  adjacent 
country.  In  the  time  of  Cortes  a  magnificent  parochial  church  was  built  here. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  235 

many  of  our  allies,  yet  seeing  the  strength  of  the  place, 
he  did  not  dare  to  attack  it,  nor  to  approach  the  enemy. 
But  when  the  alguazil  mayor  and  the  Spaniards  saw  this, 
they  resolved  to  scale  the  heights  of  the  town,  or  to 
perish  in  the  attempt ;  and  with  the  watchword  "  Senor 
Santiago,''''*  they  began  the  ascent.  It  pleased  God  to 
give  them  such  strength,  that  although  the  resistance  was 
great  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  they  succeeded  in  effect- 
ing an  entrance  into  the  place,  but  not  without  many  of 
them  being  wounded.  When  our  Indian  allies  followed, 
and  the  enemy  were  seen  to  yield,  so  great  was  the 
slaughter  both  at  the  hands  of  our  people,  and  by  the 
enemy  throwing  themselves  from  the  heights  of  the  town, 
that  a  small  stream,  which  almost  surrounds  the  town, 
was  said  by  all  who  were  there  to  have  been  for  more 
than  an  hour  so  tinged  with  blood,  that  they  could  not 
drink  it,  although  in  consequence  of  the  heat  there  was 
a  great  want  of  water  for  that  purpose.  Having  thus 
brought  matters  to  a  conclusion,  and  at  length  reduced 
these  two  places  to  a  state  of  peace,  after  punishing  them 
well  for  refusing  terms  when  first  offered,  the  alguazil 
mayor  returned  with  all  his  force  to  Tezcuco  ;  and  your 
Catholic  Majesty  may  be  assured  that  this  was  a  most 
signal  victory,  in  which  the  Spaniards  showed  their 
courageous  spirit  in  a  remarkable  degree. 

When  the  Mexicans  and  Temixtitans  learned  that  the 
Spaniards  and  Chalconians  had  done  so  much  injury  to 
their  people,  they  resolved  to  despatch  a  large  force 
under  certain  captains  against  them  ;  and  as  soon  as  the 
Chalconians  were  advised  of  this  movement  they  sent 
in  great  haste  to  me  for  aid,  and  I  immediately  des- 
patched the  alguazil  mayor  with  horse  and  foot,  who 

*  This  watchword  was  much  used  in  the  wars  against  the  Moors. — L. 


236  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

found  on  his  arrival  that  the  Culuans  and  Chalconians 
had  already  met  in  the  field,  and  a  brisk  engagement  had 
taken  place  between  them,  in  which,  thanks  be  to  God, 
the  Chalconians  had  come  off  victorious,  having  slain 
many  of  the  enemy,  and  taken  full  forty  of  them  prisoners, 
amongst  whom  was  a  Mexican  captain  with  two  other 
leading  personages.  The  Chalconians  delivered  all  the 
prisoners  into  the  hands  of  the  alguazil  mayor,  in  order 
that  he  might  deliver  them  tome  ;  who  accordingly  sent 
some  of  them  to  me,  and  the  rest  he  kept  with  himself, 
as  for  the  better  security  of  the  Chalconians  he  remained 
with  his  whole  force  in  a  town  of  theirs  on  the  frontiers- 
of  Mexico.  As  soon  as  his  presence  appeared  to  be  no 
longer  necessary  he  returned  to  Tezcuco,  and  brought 
with  him  the  other  prisoners  they  had  delivered  to  him. 
About  the  same  time  we  had  many  other  rencounters 
with  the  Culuans  ;  but  to  avoid  prolixity  I  omit  giving  a 
particular  account  of  them. 

As  the  road  from  the  city  of  Tezcuco  to  the  town  of 
Vera  Cruz  was  secure  for  travellers,  either  going  or 
coming,  the  inhabitants  of  that  place  had  every  day  news 
of  us,  and  we  of  them,  which  before  the  present  time 
was  not  the  case.  They  now  sent  me  a  messenger,  to  ■ . 
gether  with  a  quantity  of  crossbows,  arquebuses  and 
powder,  which  afforded  us  the  greatest  satisfaction  ;  and 
in  two  days  after  they  sent  another  messenger  by  whom 
they  advised  me  of  the  arrival  at  that  port  of  three  ships, 
containing  a  large  number  of  men  and  horses,  which 
they  would  immediately  forward — a  succor  that  God 
miraculously  sent  us  at  a  time  when  greatly  needed. 

I  sought  always,  most  powerful  Sire,  by  every  possible 
means,  to  gain  the  friendship  of  the  inhabitants  of  Temix- 
titan,  both  because  they  had  done  nothing  to  deserve 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  237 

being  exterminated,  and  to  relieve  ourselves  after  the 
toils  of  the  past  wars ;  but  chiefly  because  I  knew  it 
would  redound  to  the  service  of  your  Majesty.  For  this 
reason  whenever  I  had  any  one  belonging  to  the  city  in 
my  power,  I  sent  him  back  to  advise  and  warn  his  coun- 
trymen to  make  peace.  On  Ash  Wednesday,  the  twenty- 
seventh  day  of  March,  in  the  year  1521,  I  caused  to  be 
brought  before  me  some  of  the  principal  men  of  Temix- 
titan,  who  had  been  made  prisoners  by  the  Chalconians, 
and  said  to  them,  that  if  any  of  their  number  desired, 
they  might  go  to  the  city  and  speak  in  my  behalf  to  its 
lords,  asking  them  to  desist  from  warring  with  me,  and 
to  become  vassals  of  your  Majesty,  as  they  had  already 
been,  since  I  had  no  wish  to  destroy  them,  but  on  the 
contrary  to  be  their  friend.  Although  unwilling,  from 
fear  that  by  going  with  such  a  message  they  would  be 
put  to  death,  two  of  these  prisoners  consented  to  go,  and 
requested  me  to  give  them  a  letter  ;  for  though  they  did 
not  understand  its  contents,  they  knew  that  it  was  a  cus- 
tomary thing  amongst  us,  and  that  it  would  give  them 
credit  in  the  city.  But  by  means  of  an  interpreter  I  made 
them  comprehend  what  was  written  in  the  letter,  which 
was  the  same  that  I  had  told  them.  So  they  departed, 
and  I  ordered  five  horsemen  to  accompany  them  until 
they  were  out  of  danger. 

On  holy  Saturday,  the  Chalconians  and  their  other 
allies  and  friends  sent  to  advise  me  that  the  Mexicans 
were  about  to  invade  their  country,  and  showed  me  on  a 
large  white  cloth  a  representation  of  all  the  towns  that 
were  to  march  against  them,  and  the  routes  they  would 
take ;  and  they  begged  me  by  all  means  to  send  them 
succor.  I  told  them  that  I  would  do  so  in  four  or  five 
days,  and  that  if  in  the  mean  time  they  saw  any  pressing 

31 


238  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

necessity,  they  should  let  me  know  it,  and  I  would  come 
to  their  relief.  On  the  third  day  after  Easter,  they  re- 
turned to  beg  me  to  send  the  succor  as  soon  as  possible, 
for  the  enemy  were  rapidly  appi-oaching  them.  I  assu- 
red them  that  I  would  come  to  their  assistance,  and  on 
the  following  Friday  they  should  have  twenty-five  horse 
and  three  hundred  foot. 

On  the  preceding  Thursday,  messengers  came  to  Tez- 
cuco  from  the  provinces  of  Tazapan,  Mascalzingo,  Nau- 
tan,  and  other  cities  in  this  vicinity,  who  informed  me 
that  they  had  come  to  acknowledge  themselves  vassals 
of  your  Majesty,  and  our  allies,  for  they  had  never  killed 
any  Spaniards,  nor  risen  against  your  Majesty ;  and 
they  brought  with  them  a  quantity  of  cotton  cloth  as  a 
present.  I  thanked  them,  and  promised  if  they  were 
faithful  to  treat  them  well ;  and  so  they  returned  con- 
tented. 

The  Friday  following,  the  fifth  of  April,  1521,  I  left 
the  city  of  Tezcuco  with  thirty  horse  and  three  hundred 
foot,  fully  equipped ;  and  there  remained  in  the  city 
twenty  horse  and  three  hundred  foot,  under  the  command 
of  Gonzalo  de  Sandoval,  alguazil  mayor.  More  than 
twenty  thousand  Tezcucans  accompanied  me,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  plan  of  our  march,  we  went  to  sleep  at  a 
village  of  Chalco,  called  Talmanalco,  where  we  were 
well  received  and  lodged.  At  this  place,  as  it  is  well 
fortified,  the  Chalconians  after  they  had  become  our 
allies  always  kept  a  garrison,  as  it  is  on  the  frontiers  of 
Culua.  The  next  day  we  reached  Chalco,  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  day,  but  did  not  remain  except  to  inform 
the  caciques  of  my  intention  to  march  once  around  the 
lakes,  because  I  believed  that  when  this  expedition  was 
completed,  I  should  find  the  thirteen  brigantines  finished, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  239 

and  ready  to  be  launched  into  the  water — a  matter  of 
vast  importance.  Accordingly,  as  I  had  told  the  Chal- 
conians,  we  resumed  the  march  that  day  at  evening,  and 
arrived  at  a  village  of  theirs,  where  we  were  joined  by 
more  than  forty  thousand  men  of  war,  our  allies,  and 
took  up  our  quarters  for  the  night.  As  I  was  informed 
by  the  inhabitants  of  this  village  that  the  enemy  were 
expecting  me  in  the  field,  I  ordered  all  the  men  to  be  in 
readiness  at  the  dawn  of  day.  The  next  morning,  having 
heard  mass,  we  began  our  march ;  I  led  the  van  with 
twenty  horse,  ten  remaining  in  the  rear,  and  as  in  this 
manner  we  passed  through  a  defile  between  the  steep 
sierras,  at  two  P.  M.  we  reached  a  very  lofty  and  rough 
acclivity,  on  the  summit  of  which  were  many  women  and 
children,  and  the  sides  were  covered  with  men  of  war. 
They  immediately  began  to  sound  the  alarm,  and  making 
many  signals  with  smoke,  discharged  their  slings  upon 
us,  and  also  a  shower  of  stones,  arrows,  and  darts  ;  so 
that  in  approaching  the  place  we  received  much  injury. 
Although  we  saw  that  the  enemy  dared  not  to  wait  for 
us  in  the  field,  it  appeared  to  me  that  it  wrould  look  like 
cowardice  to  go  forward  without  giving  them  something 
they  would  not  relish,  although  such  was  the  plan  of  our 
march  ;  and  in  order  that  our  friends  might  not  suppose 
we  did  this  from  want  of  courage,  I  began  to  take  a  look 
round  the  hill,  which  was  about  a  league  in  circuit.  I 
found  it  so  well  defended,  that  to  think  of  gaining  it 
seemed  like  madness,  although  I  could  do  so  by  investing 
it,  and  compelling  the  enemy  to  yield  from  mere  want ; 
but  I  could  not  spare  the  time  necessary  for  this  purpose. 
Being  thus  somewhat  perplexed,  I  at  length  resolved 
to  scale  the  declivity  in  three  places,  which  I  had  noted, 
and  I  ordered  Cristobal  Corral  an  ensign  of  sixty  foot- 


240  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

men,  (who  always  accompanied  me,)  to  go  forward  and 
ascend  the  roughest  place,  and  that  a  number  of  muske- 
teers and  archers  should  follow  him  ;  Juan  Rodriguez,  of 
Villa  Fuerte,  and  Francisco  Verdugo,  captains,  with 
their  men,  and  some  of  the  archers  and  musketeers,  to 
ascend  another  place ;  and  Pedro  Dircio  and  Andres  de 
Monjaraz,  captains,  to  attempt  the  other  point  with  a  few 
musketeers  and  archers ;  and  that  when  they  heard 
a  musket  discharged,  they  should  all  resolve  to  ascend, 
and  purchase  victory  or  death.  Immediately,  on  the 
discharge  of  a  musket,  they  began  the  ascent,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  depriving  the  enemy  of  two  bends  in  the  moun- 
tain, but  were  unable  to  get  any  farther,  finding  it  impos- 
sible to  hold  on  with  their  hands  and  feet  on  account  of 
the  unparalleled  roughness  and  steepness  of  the  declivity. 
The  enemy  hurled  down  rocks  from  the  summit  with 
their  hands,  and  these  rolling  until  broken  into  fragments 
which  scattered  in  every  direction,  did  infinite  mischief ; 
and  so  violent  were  these  assaults  of  the  enemy,  that  two 
Spaniards  were  killed,  and  more  than  twenty  wounded. 
In  short,  they  were  unable  by  any  means  to  pass  beyond 
where  they  were.  Seeing  that  it  was  impossible  to  ac- 
complish more  than  had  been  already  done,  and  that  great 
numbers  of  the  enemy  were  coming  to  the  relief  of  those 
on  the  mountain,  the  whole  country  being  full  of  them,  I 
ordered  the  captains  to  return,  and  when  they  had  de- 
scended, our  horse  made  a  charge  upon  the  enemy  on  the 
plain,  killing  many  with  their  lances ;  after  which  we  pur- 
sued them  for  more  than  an  hour  and  a  half.  As  there 
were  great  numbers  of  the  enemy,  the  horse  sallied  forth 
first  to  one  side,  and  then  the  other,  and  after  they  had 
come  in  from  the  pursuit,  I  was  informed  by  some  of 
them  that  they  had  gone  more  than  a  league  from  where 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  241 

we  were,  and  had  seen  another  hill  with  many  people 
upon  it,  but  that  it  was  not  so  defensible ;  and  that  on 
the  plain  surrounding  it  there  was  a  large  population, 
and  two  things  existed  there  that  the  other  wanted ; 
one  was  water,  which  had  not  until  then  been  found  ;  the 
other  was,  that  the  hill  being  of  so  great  an  extent  could 
not  offer  as  great  facilities  for  resistance,  and  the  people 
on  it  could  be  taken  without  danger.  It  was  with  feel- 
ings sad  enough  that  we  left  this  place  without  achieving 
a  victory,  and  went  to  lodge  that  night  near  the  other 
eminence ;  and  we  marched  with  great  labor  and  ex- 
haustion, for  we  had  not  found  water,  nor  drank  any 
the  whole  day,  neither  ourselves  nor  our  horses.  In  this 
condition  we  were  compelled  to  pass  the  night  amidst 
the  noises  made  by  the  enemy  with  kettle-drums,  horns,, 
and  horrid  outcries. 

As  soon  as  it  was  day-light,  several  of  the  captains 
and  myself  began  to  reconnoitre  the  hill,  which  ap- 
peared to  us  to  be  not  less  formidable  than  the  other  ; 
but  there  were  two  eminences  higher  than  the  main  one, 
and  not  so  hard  to  ascend,  on  which  was  a  consider- 
able force  to  defend  them.  The  captains  and  I,  with 
other  hidalgos  who  were  there,  took  our  bucklers  and 
went  on  foot  towards  the  hill,  (as  the  horses  had  been 
sent  to  be  watered  a  league  off,)  for  the  purpose  of  see- 
ing the  strength  of  the  place,  and  where  to  make  an  at- 
tack ;  and  the  people,  when  they  saw  us  going,  although 
we  had  said  nothing  to  them,  voluntarily  followed  us. 
When  we  reached  the  foot  of  the  hill,  those  who  were 
on  the  heights  supposed  that  I  would  make  an  attack  on 
the  middle  of  the  elevation,  and  descended  to  aid  their 
own  people.  As  soon  as  I  observed  this  movement,  and 
that  by  taking  possession  of  these  two  eminences  much 


242  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

injury  could  be  done  to  ihem  with  little  noise,  I  ordered 
a  captain  to  ascend  immediately  with  his  men,  and  oc- 
cupy one  of  the  higher  elevations  which  they  had  left, 
and  he  did  so.  1  with  the  rest  of  the  party  began  to 
ascend  the  hill  itself,  on  which  was  the  principal  force 
of  the  enemy ;  and  it  pleased  God  that  I  should  gain  one 
level  on  it,  and  we  placed  ourselves  at  a  height  that  al- 
most equalled  that  from  whence  they  fought ;  which  it 
appeared  impossible  to  reach,  at  least  without  infinite 
danger.  Already  a  captain  had  planted  his  flag  on  the 
loftiest  part  of  the  hill,  from  which  he  began  to  discharge 
his  muskets  and  cross-bows  on  the  enemy.  As  soon  as 
they  saw  the  injury  they  were  likely  to  receive,  and  con- 
sidered what  would  be  their  fate,  they  made  a  signal  of 
their  willingness  to  surrender,  and  laid  their  arms  on  the 
ground.  As  my  policy  has  always  been  to  make  these 
people  understand  that  we  do  not  seek  to  injure  them, 
however  guilty  they  may  have  been,  but  desire  them 
to  become  vassals  of  your  Majesty ;  and  as  they  are  a 
people  of  so  great  intelligence  that  they  comprehend  and 
know  every  thing,  I  gave  orders  to  do  them  no  harm ; 
and  when  they  came  to  speak  to  me  I  received  them 
well.  When  they  saw  how  kindly  I  treated  them, 
they  communicated  the  fact  to  the  people  on  the  other 
hill,  who,  although  they  had  come  off  victorious,  deter- 
mined to  offer  themselves  for  vassals  of  your  Majesty, 
and  came  to  ask  pardon  of  me  for  the  past. 

I  was  two  days  amongst  the  people  dwelling  about  the 
mountain,  from  whence  I  sent  the  wounded  to  Tesaico, 
and  departed  myself;  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  day  we  arrived 
at  Guastepeque,  of  which  mention  is  made  above,  where 
we  all  lodged  in  a  garden-house  of  the  cacique.  This 
garden  is  the  largest,  most  beautiful  and  refreshing  that 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  243 

I  ever  beheld  ;  it  is  two  leagues  in  circuit,  and  through 
the  middle  of  it  flows  a  fine  stream  of  water ;  at  intervals 
of  about  two  bow-shots  are  houses  with  beds  of  flowers, 
and  numerous  trees  bearing  various  fruits,  together  with 
a  profusion  of  herbs  and  odoriferous  plants  ;  so  that  the 
beauty  and  extent  of  the  whole  garden  are  worthy  of  the 
greatest  admiration.  That  day  we  reposed  in  it,  and 
the  people  did  all  they  could  to  please  and  serve  us. 
The  next  day  we  set  out,  and  at  eight  o'clock  we  arrived 
at  a  goodly  town  called  Yautepeque,  where  a  great  num- 
ber of  the  enemy  were  awaiting  our  arrival.  On  our 
coming  it  seemed  as  if  they  wished  to  make  us  some 
signal  of  peace,  either  on  account  of  their  fears,  or  to  de- 
ceive us.  But  immediately,  without  more  ado,  they 
•began  to  fly,  abandoning  the  place  ;  and  I  did  not  care 
to  remain  in  it,  but  with  thirty  horse  we  pursued  them 
two  leagues  until  we  shut  them  up  in  another  place  called 
Gilutepeque,  when  we  attacked  them  with  lances,  and 
slew  many  of  them.  In  this  town  we  found  the  people 
very  much  off  their  guard,  because  we  got  there  before 
their  scouts.  Some  of  them  were  slain,  and  many  wo- 
men and  young  persons  were  taken  prisoners ;  all  the 
rest  fled.  I  remained  there  two  days,  believing  that  the 
cacique  would  acknowledge  himself  a  vassal  of  your 
Majesty ;  but  as  he  never  came,  when  I  left  the  town  I 
set  fire  to  it.  Before,  however,  I  had  left  it,  certain  per- 
sons came  from  the  former  place,  called  Yactepeque,  and 
asked  me  to  pardon  them,  saying  that  they  desired  to  be- 
come vassals  of  your  Majesty.  I  received  them  favora- 
bly, because  they  had  already  been  sufficiently  punished. 
On  the  same  day  that  I  departed,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  I  came  in  sight  of  a  very  strong  town,  called 


244  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

Coadnabaced,  in  which  was  a  large  force  of  the  enemy.* 
The  town  was  well  defended  by  its  situation,  being  sur- 
rounded by  mountains  and  ravines,  some  of  the  latter 
fifty  or  sixty  feet  in  depth ;  and  no  horsemen  could  enter 
the  place  except  by  two  ways,  which  were  then  unknown 
to  us,  and  even  these  rendered  it  necessary  to  make  a 
circuit  of  more  than  a  league  and  a  half  to  find  the  en- 
trance. There  were,  indeed,  bridges  of  wood  that  led 
into  the  town,  but  these  were  raised,  and  were  so  strong 
and  so  well  secured  that  although  we  had  been  ten  times 
as  numerous,  we  could  not  have  made  use  of  them.  As 
we  advanced  towards  the  place,  the  enemy  shot  a  great 
number  of  arrows,  darts,  and  stones  at  us  ;  and  while  we 
were  deliberating  what  course  to  take,  a  Tlascallan 
crossed  over  without  being  observed  by  them,  by  a  very 
dangerous  passage.  When  the  enemy  suddenly  discov- 
ered him,  they  imagined  that  the  Spaniards  had  effected 
an  entrance  at  that  point,  and  alarmed  they  blindly  fled, 
pursued  by  the  Indians  and  three  or  four  young  persons, 
servants  of  mine,  with  two  others  belonging  to  a  captain's 
command,  who,  when  they  saw  the  Indian  pass  over, 
had  followed  him  and  crossed  to  the  other  side.  In  the 
mean  time  I  began  to  lead  the  way  with  the  cavalry  to 
the  mountain  to  find  an  entrance  to  the  town,  while  the 
Indians,  our  enemies,  were  constantly  shooting  darts  and 
arrows  at  us,  there  being  only  a  ravine,  like  a  ditch, 
between  them  and  us.f  While  they  were  thus  engaged, 
the  five  Spaniards  that  had  crossed  over,  whom  they  had 
not  seen,  suddenly  came  upon  their  rear,  and  began  to 

*  Cuemabaca,  before  called  Cuaunahuac,  is  a  very  pleasant  and  very  strong 
place  ;  where  are  still  preserved  the  houses  of  Cortes,  used  as  a  fortress,  together 
with  other  memorials  of  the  conquest. — L. 

t  This  ravine  yet  exists,  and  the  description  of  Cortes  still  holds  true. — L. 


CONQUEST  OP  MExrco.  245 

cut  and  slash  at  them,  taking  them  completely  by  sur- 
prise ;  for  they  had  no  idea  that  an  attack  could  possibly 
come  from  that  quarter,  not  knowing  that  their  people 
had  fled  from  the  place  where  the  Spaniards  and  the 
Indian  had  crossed  ;  they  were  thus  struck  with  terror, 
and  being  afraid  to  resist,  the  Spanish  soldiers  killed  a 
number  of  them,  until  seeing  how  they  had  been  deceived, 
they  began  to  fly.  Our  infantry  had  now  entered  the 
town,  and  commenced  setting  fire  to  it,  while  the  enemy 
were  forsaking  it,  taking  refuge  in  the  mountain,  although 
many  of  them  perished,  being  pursued  by  our  horse  and 
slain  in  great  numbers.  It  was  about  midday  when  we 
found  where  we  could  enter  the  city,  and  we  took  some 
repose  in  the  houses  of  a  garden,  although  we  found  them 
nearly  all  burned.  Towards  evening,  the  cacique  and 
some  of  the  other  nobles,  seeing  that  it  was  useless  to 
attempt  to  defend  even  so  strong  a  place,  and  fearing  that 
we  should  pursue  them  into  the  mountain  and  destroy 
them,  determined  to  come  and  acknowledge  themselves 
vassals  of  your  Majesty ;  and  I  received  them  as  such, 
and  they  promised  me  to  be  henceforth  forever  our 
friends.  These  Indians  and  others  who  came  to  give 
themselves  up  as  vassals  of  your  Majesty,  after  the  burn- 
ing and  destruction  of  their  houses  and  haciendas,  told  us 
that  the  reason  of  their  coming  in  so  late  was,  that  they 
thought  their  offences  would  be  atoned  for  more  effectu- 
ally if  they  suffered  first  some  injury,  and  that  when 
this  was  done,  we  should  have  no  unfriendly  feelings 
towards  them. 

We  slept  that  night  in  the  town,  and  in  the  morning 
pursued  our  route  through  a  country  of  pine  trees,  unin- 
habited, and  destitute  of  water ;  we  passed  on  a  road 
leading  through  a  narrow  mountain  defile,  suffering  much 

32 


246  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

from  fatigue  and  want  of  drink ;  many  of  the  Indians 
even,  who  accompanied  us,  perishing  with  thirst.  Seven 
leagues  from  that  place  we  spent  the  night  in  camp. 
At  dawn  of  day  we  resumed  our  route,  and  came  in 
sight  of  a  great  city  called  Suchimilco,  built  on  the  fresh 
water  lake.  As  the  inhabitants  were  apprised  of  our 
coming,  they  had  digged  many  ditches  and  canals,  and 
raised  the  bridges  at  all  the  entrances  into  the  city,  which 
is  three  or  four  leagues  distant  from  Temixtitan.  The 
population  was  large  and  intelligent,  and  resolved  to  de- 
fend themselves  or  die  in  the  attempt.  As  soon  as  we 
had  arrived  there,  having  collected  our  whole  force  and 
disposed  it  in  the  best  manner,  I  dismounted  from 
my  horse  and  proceeded  with  several  of  the  infantry 
towards  a  ditch  they  had  made,  on  the  other  side  of 
which  were  posted  a  considerable  number  of  the  enemy. 
When  the  engagement  commenced,  they  suffered  much 
loss  from  the  crossbows  and  musketry,  and  fled  in  con- 
fusion, while  the  Spaniards  threw  themselves  into  the 
water  and  passing  on  reached  terra  firma.  In  the  half 
hour  during  which  the  fighting  lasted,  we  took  the  princi- 
pal part  of  the  city,  and  the  enemy  retreating  through 
the  streets  of  water  fought  in  their  canoes  till  night. 
Some  of  them  sued  for  peace,  and  others  continued 
fighting ;  and  they  so  often  asked  for  a  cessation  of  hos- 
tilities, that  we  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  done 
to  enable  them  to  carry  away  their  goods  in  safety,  or  to 
gain  time  for  the  arrival  of  succors  from  Mexico  and 
Temixtitan. 

This  day  two  Spaniards  were  killed,  who  having  left 
the  ranks  for  the  purpose  of  plunder  found  themselves 
beyond  the  reach  of  assistance  from  the  rest  of  the  army. 
In  the  evening  the  enemy  endeavored  to  devise  some 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  247 

way  to  cut  us  off,  so  that  we  could  not  leave  this  city 
without  the  loss  of  our  lives.  Having  assembled  a  large 
force,  they  determined  to  attack  us  in  that  quarter  of  the 
city  where  we  had  entered,  and  seeing  them  advance 
with  so  much  ardor  and  activity,  we  were  astonished, 
and  taking  six  of  the  cavalry  that  were  more  at  hand 
than  the  rest,  I  charged  upon  the  midst  of  them.  They 
fled  from  fear  of  the  horses,  and  we  thus  passed  out  of 
the  city  behind  them,  slaying  many,  although  we  were 
in  great  danger ;  some  of  them  discovering  so  much 
courage  as  to  wait  for  the  advance  of  the  cavalry,  being 
armed  with  sword  and  buckler.  When  we  had  become 
in  this  manner  mixed  up  with  the  enemy  in  great  con- 
fusion, the  horse  on  which  I  rode  fell  from  excessive 
fatigue,  and  some  of  them  seeing  me  on  foot,  rushed 
upon  me,  while  I  defended  myself  with  my  lance  ;  but 
an  Indian  of  Tlascala,  as  soon  as  he  saw  my  situation, 
ran  to  my  assistance,  and  he  and  one  of  my  servants 
who  also  soon  came  up  aided  me  in  raising  my  horse. 
The  Spaniards  had  now  reached  this  quarter,  and  the 
enemy  abandoned  the  field  ;  while  I,  with  other  horse- 
men who  arrived,  being  excessively  fatigued,  returned 
to  the  city.  Although  it  was  now  almost  night,  and 
there  was  need  of  repose,  I  ordered  all  the  bridges  that 
had  been  raised,  under  which  the  water  flowed,  to  be 
dammed  up  with  stone  and  brick,  so  that  the  horsemen 
could  enter  and  leave  the  city  without  any  noise  ;  and  I 
did  not  leave  the  ground  until  all  the  bad  places  were 
repaired.  After  using  much  precaution,  and  setting 
many  guards,  we  retired  for  the  night. 

The  next  day,  when  the  inhabitants  of  the  province 
of  Mexico  and  Temixtitan  learned  that  we  were  in  Suchi- 
milco,  they  determined  to  come  in  great  strength  by 


248  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

water  and  by  land,  to  surround  us,  believing  that  we  could 
not  escape  from  their  hands.  I  ascended  a  tower  con- 
taining their  idols,  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  in  what 
manner  they  would  approach,  and  in  what  quarter  they 
would  attack  us,  in  order  to  take  proper  measures  to 
meet  them.  When  all  our  preparations  were  completed, 
there  arrived  by  water  a  great  fleet  of  canoes,  exceeding 
two  thousand  in  number,  as  I  believe ;  and  in  them  came 
more  than  twelve  thousand  warriors  ;  at  the  same  time 
the  whole  country  was  covered  with  the  multitudes  that 
poured  in  by  land.  The  leaders  of  the  advance  troops 
bore  in  their  hands  swords  that  had  been  taken  from  our 
people,  and  calling  out  the  names  of  their  provinces, 
cried,  "  Mexico,  Mexico — Temixtitan,  Temixtitan  ;"  at  the 
same  time  they  showered  reproaches  upon  us,  and 
threatened  to  slay  us  with  the  swords  that  they  had 
taken  from  us  on  a  former  occasion  in  the  city  of  Temix- 
titan. After  I  had  assigned  each  captain  his  post,  finding 
that  there  were  great  numbers  of  $ie  enemy  on  terra 
firma,  I  proceeded  against  them  with  twenty  horse  and 
five  hundred  Tlascallans,  dividing  my  force  into  three 
parts  ;  and  I  ordered  that  when  they  had  dispersed  the 
enemy,  they  should  rendezvous  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  half 
a  league  distant  from  there,  because  many  of  the  enemy 
were  at  that  point.  When  we  had  divided,  each  squad- 
ron pursued  the  enemy  under  its  own  leader ;  and  after 
having  routed  them  and  with  lances  killed  many,  we 
sought  the  rendezvous  at  the  base  of  the  hill ;  and  I 
ordered  several  foot  soldiers,  servants  of  mine,  who  were 
very  daring,  to  endeavor  to  ascend  the  steepest  part  of 
the  hill.  I  then  with  the  horse  went  round  to  the  rear, 
where  it  was  more  level,  and  attacked  the  enemy  in  the 
centre  ;  and  '.vhen   they  saw  ihe  Spaniards  ascend  the 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  249 

hill,  they  threw  down  their  swords,  thinking  to  find  safety 
in  flight,  but  they  encountered  our  party  of  fifteen  horse, 
when  we  and  the  Tlascallans  made  an  attack  upon  them. 
In  this  way  there  perished  in  a  short  time  more  than  five 
hundred  of  the  enemy ;  all  the  rest  escaped  and  took 
refuge  in  the  mountains.  The  other  six  horsemen  hap- 
pened to  take  a  wide  and  level  road,  from  which  they 
hurled  their  darts  at  the  enemy  ;  and  at  half  a  league 
from  Suchimilco  they  fell  upon  a  squadron  of  very  hand- 
some troops,  who  were  coming  to  the  relief  of  their 
countrymen,  and  defeated  them,  slaying  some  with  their 
lances. 

It  was  now  ten  o'clock  in  the  day,  when  all  the  cavalry 
having  come  together,  we  returned  to  Suchimilco,  and 
at  the  entrance  of  the  town  I  found  many  Spaniards, 
who  were  anxiously  desiring  our  return,  and  to  know 
what  success  we  had  met  with  ;  and  they  informed  me 
that  they  had  been  hotly  engaged,  and  had  labored  hard 
to  drive  out  the  enemy,  of  whom  they  had  killed  great 
numbers.  They  gave  me  two  of  our  swords,  which  they 
had  retaken,  and  said  that  the  archers  had  used  up  their 
arrows,  and  could  obtain  no  more.  While  listening  to 
this  account,  before  we  had  dismounted,  a  large  squadron 
of  the  enemy  with  loud  cries  appeared  on  a  wide  cause- 
way, and  we  immediately  rushed  upon  them,  causing  them 
to  throw  themselves  into  the  water  which  was  on  both 
sides  of  the  causeway.  Thus  we  put  them  to  route,  and 
collecting  our  people  together,  we  returned  much  ex- 
hausted to  the  city,  where  I  ordered  every  thing  to  be 
burnt  except  the  house  in  which  we  lodged.  We  had  thus 
been  three  days  in  the  city,  continually  engaged  in  fight- 
ing ;  and  at  length  departed,  leaving  it  wholly  destroyed 
and  razed  to  the  ground.     It  was  a  spectacle  worth  be- 


250  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

holding,  as  there  were  many  houses  and  towers  for  idols, 
built  of  stone  and  lime ;  but  to  avoid  prolixity,  I  forbear 
to  particularize  other  remarkable  things  connected  with 
this  city. 

The  day  on  which  I  left  this  place  I  went  out  to  a 
public  square,  which  was  connected  with  the  city  by 
the  main  land,  where  the  inhabitants  pursued  their 
traffic  ;  and  I  ordered  ten  of  the  cavalry  to  advance  to 
the  front,  ten  others  to  be  stationed  in  the  centre  of  the 
infantry,  and  the  remaining  ten  to  fall  into  the  rear. 
When  the  Suchimilcans  saw  that  we  were  beginning  to 
move  away,  thinking  that  it  was  from  fear,  they  rushed 
upon  our  rear  with  loud  cries ;  and  the  ten  horsemen 
and  myself  returned  to  attack  them,  and  pursued  them 
until  they  plunged  into  the  water ;  by  this  means  they 
were  taught  to  let  us  alone,  and  we  continued  our  route. 
At  ten  o'clock  in  the  day  we  arrived  at  the  city  of  Cuyo- 
can,  two  leagues  from  Suchimilco,  and  about  the  same 
distance  from  the  cities  of  Temixtitan,  Culuacan,  Uchi- 
lubusco,  (Churubusco,)  Iztapalapa,  Cuitaguaca,  and 
Mizqueque,  all  of  which  are  situated  on  the  water.  The 
most  distant  of  these  is  one  and  a  half  leagues,  which  we 
found  deserted  by  the  inhabitants,  and  we  took  our 
quarters  in  the  house  of  the  cacique,  where  we  remained 
two  days.  As  when  the  brigantines  were  completed  I 
should  i have  occasion  to  place  them  round  Temixtitan, 
I  wished  first  to  see  the  disposition  of  that  city,  its  en- 
trances and  outlets,  and  where  the  Spaniards  could  make 
an  attack,  or  be  likely  to  receive  one.  The  day  after 
I  arrived,  I  took  five  horse  and  two  hundred  foot,  and 
went  towards  the  lake,  which  is  very  near,  by  means 
of  a  causeway  that  leads  into  the  city  of  Temixtitan, 
when  we  beheld  a  great  number  of  canoes  on  the  water, 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  251 

and  in  them  a  countless  multitude  of  warriors.  We 
reached  an  entrenchment,  which  the  enemy  had  thrown 
up  on  the  causeway,  against  which  the  infantry  com- 
menced an  attack  ;  and  although  it  was  very  strong,  and 
stoutly  defended,  ten  Spaniards  being  wounded,  we  at 
length  carried  it,  and  killed  many  of  the  enemy,  although 
the  archers  and  musketeers  were  left  without  arrows 
and  powder.  From  this  place  we  saw  how  the  cause- 
way passes  straight  over  the  water  until  it  reaches  Te- 
mixtitan,  a  full  league  and  a  half;  and  both  this,  and 
the  other  which  goes  to  Iztapalapa,  were  covered  with  an 
innumerable  crowd  of  people.  When  I  had  considered 
well  whatever  was  necessary  to  be  seen,  as  we  should 
be  compelled  to  have  a  garrison  of  foot  and  horse  in  this 
city,  I  collected  our  force  together  and  returned  to  the 
town,  burning  the  houses  and  the  towers  of  the  idols. 

The  next  day  we  left  this  city  for  Tacuba,  two  leagues 
distant,  and  arrived  at  nine  in  the  day,  throwing  our 
lances  on  one  side  and  the  other,  as  the  enemy  issued 
from  the  lake  to  attack  the  Indians  who  were  transport- 
ing our  equipage  ;  and  finding  themselves  deceived  they 
suffered  us  to  proceed  in  peace.  Since,  as  I  have  al- 
ready stated,  my  principal  intention  was  to  endeavor  to 
make  the  circuit  of  all  the  lakes  in  order  to  understand 
and  obtain  a  better  knowledge  of  the  country,  and  also 
to  succor  some  of  our  allies,  I  did  not  care  to  stop  at 
Tacuba.  But  when  the  Mexicans  (whose  city  is  very 
near  that  place,  and  even  extends  so  far  as  to  reach  the 
main  land  at  Tacuba)  saw  us  pass  by,  they  recovered 
their  spirits,  and  with  great  boldness  made  an  attack 
upon  our  baggage ;  and  when  our  horse  came  up  in 
good  order,  it  being  all  level  ground,  we  gave  a  good 
account  of  the  enemy,  without  ourselves  incurring  any 


252  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

danger.  As  we  were  dashing  from  one  side  to  the  other, 
several  youths  in  my  service  followed  me  in  my  move- 
ments ;  but  at  one  time  two  of  them  neglected  to  do  so, 
and  found  themselves  so  situated  that  they  could  not  es- 
cape falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who,  without 
doubt,  would  put  them  to  a  cruel  death,  as  they  are 
wont  to  do.  My  feelings  on  this  occasion  God  only 
knows,  on  account  of  their  being  Christians,  and  men 
of  valor,  who  had  performed  good  service  for  your 
Majesty  in  this  war. 

Leaving  this  city,  we  began  to  pursue  our  route  through 
other  villages  in  the  vicinity,  and  drew  near  the  enemy, 
who,  I  ascertained,  had  taken  the  young  men  prisoners. 
In  order  to  revenge  their  death,  and  because  the  enemy 
followed  us  with  terrible  outcries,  I  with  twenty  horse 
placed  myself  behind  some  houses  in  ambush ;  and 
when  the  Indians  saw  the  other  ten  horse  and  all  the 
people  and  baggage  going  on  before,  they  immediately 
pursued  them  by  a  road  that  was  wide  and  level,  with- 
out fear.  As  soon  as  we  saw  them  pass,  I  gave  the 
watchword  "  the  Apostle  St.  James,"  when  we  rushed  upon 
them  with  great  violence.  And  before  they  had  thrown 
themselves  into  the  canals  near  by,  we  had  slain  more 
than  a  hundred  of  their  principal  men,  and  they  no 
longer  cared  to  follow  us.  This  day  we  went  to  sleep 
two  leagues  in  advance,  at  the  city  of  Coatinchan,  very 
much  wearied  and  wet,  for  it  had  rained  much  that 
night,  and  we  found  the  place  deserted.  The  next  day 
we  resumed  our  march,  casting  our  lances  from  time 
to  time  at  some  Indians  who  came  forth  to  greet  us  with 
outcries  ;  and  we  went  to  sleep  at  a  village  called  Gilo- 
tepeque,  which  we  also  found  deserted.  The  next  day, 
at  twelve  o'clock,  we  arrived  at  a  city  called  Aculman, 


CONQUEST    OF   MEXICO.  253 

which  is  in  the  seignory  of  the  city  of  Tezcuco,  where 
we  went  to  lodge  that  night,  and  were  well  received  by 
the  Spaniards,  who  congratulated  us  on  our  arrival  and 
safety ;  for  since  I  had  departed  from  them,  they  had 
known  nothing  of  me  till  the  day  that  we  arrived.  They 
had  had  many  suspicions  in  the  city,  and  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city  had  told  them  every  day  that  the  Mexicans 
would  attack  them  while  I  was  gone.  Thus  was  con- 
cluded, by  the  aid  of  God,  this  expedition  ;  it  was  a 
great  enterprise,  in  which  your  Majesty  received  much 
service  in  various  ways,  as  I  shall  hereafter  relate. 

At  the  time,  most  powerful  and  invincible  Sire,  when 
I  was  in  the  city  of  Temixtitan,  soon  after  my  first  arrival, 
I  made  provision,  as  I  informed  your  Majesty  in  my  for- 
mer relation,  that  in  two  or  three  provinces  prepared  for 
this  purpose,  there  should  be  established  for  your  Majes- 
ty's benefit  certain  farm-houses  where  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil  and  other  things  suited  to  the  nature  of  the  coun- 
try should  be  attended  to.  To  one  of  these  provinces, 
called  Chinantla,*  I  sent  two  Spaniards;  this  province  was 
not  subject  to  the  Culuans.  In  the  others,  which  existed 
at  the  time  they  made  war  on  me  in  the  city  of  Temixti- 
tan, those  persons  who  had  charge  of  the  plantations 
were  slain,  and  the  establishments  robbed  of  all  they  con- 
tained, being  of  considerable  value  according  to  the  es- 
timation of  the  country.  Almost  a  year  passed  without 
my  hearing  any  thing  of  the  Spaniards  at  Chinantla ;  since 
all  those  provinces  having  rebelled  against  us,  neither 
could  they  hear  from  us,  nor  we  from  them.     The  native 

*  Chinantla  is  towards  Vera  Cruz,  more  nearly  opposite  than  that  city  to  the 
island  of  Sacrificios ;  to  this  province  was  sent  Hernando  Barrientos,  where  he 
was  ordered  by  Cortes  to  fabricate  lances  larger  and  stronger  than  the  common 
kind  ;  and  on  account  of  the  black  flints  with  which  they  pointed  the  lances, 
the  place  was  called  Chinanthla. — L. 

33 


254  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

inhabitants  of  the  province  of  Chinantla,  being  vassals  of 
your  Majesty  and  enemies  of  the  Culuans,  told  these 
Christians  by  no  means  to  depart  out  of  their  land,  be- 
cause the  Culuans  had  made  war  upon  us,  and  they 
believed  that  few  or  none  of  our  people  survived.  So 
these  two  Spaniards  remained  in  that  country,  and  the 
natives  made  one  of  them,  who  was  young  and  a  soldier, 
their  captain ;  and  at  that  time  he  went  with  them  to 
make  war  on  their  enemies,  and  several  times  he  and 
the  people  of  Chinantla  came  off  victorious.  When  after- 
wards it  pleased  God  that  we  should  recover  our  position 
and  vanquish  our  enemies,  who  had  defeated  us,  and 
driven  us  from  Temixtitan,  the  people  of  Chinantla  in- 
formed these  Christians  that  they  knew  there  were  some 
Spaniards  in  the  province  of  Tepeaca,  and  if  they  wished 
to  obtain  certain  information,  they  would  risk  two  Indi- 
ans, although  they  had  to  pass  through  much  of  their 
enemies'  country ;  but  they  should  go  by  night,  and  out 
of  the  travelled  road,  until  they  reached  Tepeaca.  By 
these  two  Indians  one  of  the  Spaniards,  who  was  supe- 
rior to  the  other,  sent  a  letter,  the  tenor  of  which  was  as 
follows  : — 

"  Noble  Sirs, — I  have  written  two  or  three  letters  to 
your  honors,  and  I  know  not  whether  they  reached  you 
or  not ;  and  since  I  have  received  no  answer  to  them,  I 
also  regard  it  as  doubtful  whether  I  shall  receive  one  to 
this.  Be  it  known  to  you,  sirs,  that  all  the  natives  of  the 
land  of  Culua  have  risen,  and  several  times  visited  us 
with  war ;  but  always,  praised  be  our  Lord,  we  have 
come  off  conquerors.  And  with  the  people  of  Tuxtepeque, 
on  account  of  their  connexion  with  Culua,  we  every  day 
had  hostilities.       Those  who  are  in  the    service  of  hi-s 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  255 

Highness  and  his  vassals  are  seven  towns  of  the  Tenez  ;* 
and  Nicolas  and  I  are  always  in  Chinantla,  which  is  the 
chief  of  them.  I  much  desire  to  know  where  the  captain 
is,  that  I  may  be  able  to  write  to  him  and  inform  him  of 
things  here.  If  by  chance  you  should  write  me  where  he 
is,  please  to  send  twenty  or  thirty  Spaniards  to  escort 
me  to  him,  with  two  of  the  principal  people  of  this 
place,  who  desire  to  see  and  converse  with  him  ;  and  it 
would  be  well  for  them  to  come  now,  since  as  it  is  now 
time  to  gather  the  cacao,  the  Culuans  hinder  it  by  their 
wars.  May  our  Lord  protect  the  persons  of  your  honors 
according  to  your  desire.  From  Chinantla,  on  I  know 
not  what  day  of  April,  1521.  My  service  to  your 
honors. 

HERNANDO  DE  BARRIENTOS."f 

When  the  two  Indians  arrived  in  the  province  of  Te- 
peaca  with  this  letter,  the  captain  I  had  left  there  in 
command  of  a  Spanish  force  sent  it  immediately  to  me 
at  Tezcuco ;  and  we  all  felt  great  satisfaction  in  receiving 
it,  for  although  we  had  placed  great  confidence  in  the 
friendship  of  the  people  of  Chinantla,  we  feared  that  if 
they  confederated  with  the  Culuans,  they  would  have 
put  to  death  the  two  Spaniards.  I  immediately  wrote 
to  them,  giving  an  account  of  what  had  passed,  and  en- 
couraging them  to  hope  that  although  they  were  sur- 
rounded on  all  sides  by  the  enemy,  soon,  if  it  pleased 
God,  they  would  find  themselves  free,  and  able  to  go 
and  come  in  safety. 

After  having  made  the  circuit  of  the  lakes,  and  acquired 

*  These  towns  are  in  the  province  of  Tabasco. — L. 

t  This  Hernando  Barrientos  is  the  ancestor  of  the  noble  family  of  the  Barri- 
entos  of  Mexico. — L. 


256  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

much  information  that  might  be  of  use  in  investing  the 
city  of  Mexico  by  land  and  water,  I  returned  to  Tezcuco, 
where  I  provided  myself  to  the  best  of  my  ability  with 
men  and  arms,  and  hastened  the  completion  of  the  bri- 
gantines  and  a  trench  by  which  they  were  to  be  floated 
to  the  lake.  This  trench  had  been  commenced  directly 
after  the  arrival  of  the  timber  and  planks  composing  the 
brigantines,  and  formed  a  canal  extending  from  near 
our  quarters  until  it  discharged  into  the  lake.  The  dis- 
tance from  the  place  where  the  brigantines  were  put  to- 
gether and  the  head  of  the  canal  to  the  lake,  is  full  half 
a  league  ;  and  in  this  work  fifty  days  were  consumed, 
and  more  than  8000  persons  employed  each  day,  natives 
of  the  province  of  Aculuacan  and  Tezcuco.  The  canal 
was  about  twelve  feet  in  depth,  and  as  many  more  in 
breadth,  and  was  protected  by  a  coating  and  a  fence  or 
paling  throughout  its  whole  length,  so  that  the  water 
that  flowed  in  it  was  conveyed  without  loss  to  the  lake. 
Thus  the  brigantines  were  able  to  be  removed  to  the 
lake  unattended  by  danger  or  labor ;  a  grand  work  cer- 
tainly, and  worthy  of  admiration.* 

*  A  plan  of  the  city  and  lakes  of  Mexico  will  be  found  at  the  end  of  the  fifth 
chapter  of  this  Letter. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  257 


CHAPTER  III. 

As  soon  as  the  brigantines  were  completed  and 
launched  into  the  canal,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  April 
in  that  year,  I  reviewed  our  whole  force,  and  found  it  to 
consist  of  eighty-six  horse,  one  hundred  and  eighteen 
archers  and  musketeers,  seven  hundred  and  more  foot, 
armed  with  sword  and  buckler,  together  with  three  heavy 
iron  cannon,  fifteen  small  copper  field-pieces,  and  ten 
hundred  weight  of  powder.  Having  finished  the  review, 
I  charged  and  enjoined  much  on  the  Spaniards  to  observe 
and  comply  with  the  orders  I  should  give  them  in  con- 
ducting the  war  with  as  great  strictness  as  possible  ;  and 
that  they  should  take  fresh  courage  and  spirits,  since 
they  saw  that  our  lord  was  leading  us  to  victory  over 
our  enemies;  for  they  knew  that  when  we  entered  Tez- 
cuco,  we  had  not  brought  more  than  forty  horse,  and  that 
God  had  succored  us  beyond  our  expectations,  ships 
having  arrived  with  horses,  men,  and  arms,  as  they  had 
seen  ;  and  that  they  should  consider  especially,  that  we 
were  fighting  in  behalf  and  for  the  spread  of  our  faith, 
and  to  reduce  to  your  Majesty's  service  the  lands  and 
provinces  that  had  rebelled ;  a  consideration  which 
should  inspire  them  with  courage  and  zeal  to  conquer  or 
die.  They  all  answered  and  showed  an  entire  willing- 
ness and  alacrity  in  complying  with  my  wishes  ;  and  the 
day  of  the  review  was  passed  by  us  with  great  enjoy- 
ment and  a  desire  to  commence  the  siege  and  end  the 
war  on  which  depended  the  peace  or  disquiet  of  these 
parts. 


258  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

The  next  day  I  sent  messengers  to  the  provinces  of 
Tascaltecal,  Guajocingo,  and  Churultecal,  to  inform  them 
that  the  brigantines  were  finished,  and  that  I  and  our 
whole  force  were  in  readiness  to  take  up  the  line  of 
march  for  the  investment  of  the  great  city  of  Temixtitan. 
I  therefore  desired,  as  they  had  been  advised  by  me,  and 
should  now  have  their  people  prepared,  that  with  the 
largest  number  they  could  raise,  and  well  armed,  they 
should  depart  and  come  to  Tezcuco,  where  I  would  wait 
for  them  ten  days,  and  that  on  no  account  could  I  exceed 
that  time,  as  it  would  greatly  disconcert  our  plans. 
When  the  messengers  arrived,  the  inhabitants  of  those 
provinces  were  already  prepared,  and  quite  eager  to 
engage  with  the  Culuans ;  those  of  Guajocingo  and 
Churultecal  came  by  the  way  of  Chalco,  as  they  were 
ordered  by  me,  because  it  was  nearer  for  them  to  take 
part  in  the  siege  from  that  quarter.  The  Tlascallan  cap- 
tains with  all  their  people,  in  fine  condition  and  well 
armed,  arrived  at  TezcuCo  five  or  six  days  before  Whit- 
sunday, which  was  the  time  I  had  designated  for  them  ; 
and  as  I  knew  they  would  come  on  that  day  I  went  forth 
to  receive  them  with  lively  satisfaction  ;  and  they  arrived 
with  the  greatest  possible  alacrity  and  good  order.  Ac- 
cording to  the  return  made  to  us  by  the  captains,  there 
were  fifty  thousand  warriors,  who  were  well  received  by 
us  and  provided  with  quarters. 

The  second  day  in  Whitsun  week  I  ordered  all  the  in- 
fantry and  cavalry  to  parade  on  the  public  square  of  the 
city  of  Tezcuco,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  disposition 
of  the  troops,  and  assigning  to  the  captains  their  respec- 
tive commands  in  three  divisions,  to  be  stationed  in  the 
three  cities  around  Mexico.  One  division  I  assigned  to 
Pedro  de  Alvarado,  and  gave  him  thirty  horse,  eighteen 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  25  9 

archers  and  musketeers,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  in- 
fantry, armed  with  sword  and  buckler,  together  with 
more  than  twenty-five  thousand  warriors  of  Tlascala ; 
these  were  to  take  up  a  position  in  the  city  of  Tacuba. 

The  next  division  I  assigned  to  Cristobal  Olid,  to  whom 
I  gave  thirty-three  horse,  eighteen  archers  and  musketeers, 
and  one  hundred  and  sixty  infantry  with  sword  and 
buckler,  together  with  more  than  twenty  thousand  war- 
riors of  our  allies.  This  division  was  to  occupy  the  city 
of  Cuyoacan. 

Of  the  third  division  I  made  Gonzalo  de  Sandoval 
(the-alguazil  mayor)  captain,  and  assigned  him  twenty- 
four  horse,  four  musketeers,  thirteen  archers,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  infantry  with  sword  and  buckler,  fifty 
of  these  being  a  select  corps  of  young  men  that  I  brought 
in  my  company,  besides  the  people  of  Guajocingo,  Chu- 
rultecal  and  Chalco,  more  than  thirty  thousand  men  in 
all.  This  division  was  destined  for  the  city  of  Iztapalapa, 
which  was  to  be  destroyed  ;  after  which  it  was  to  pass 
over  a  causeway  on  the  lake  under  cover  of  the  brigan- 
tines,  and  unite  with  the  division  at  Cuyoacan,  when  I 
should  have  entered  the  lake  with  the  brigantines.  The 
alguazil  mayor  was  allowed  to  take  his  position  where- 
ever  it  seemed  to  him  most  advantageous. 

For  the  thirteen  brigantines  with  which  I  was  to  enter 
the  lake  I  left  three  hundred  men,  most  of  whom  were 
seamen,  well  skilled  in  their  profession  j  each  brigantine 
carrying  twenty-five  Spaniards,  and  each  having  its 
captain  and  commissary,  together  with  six  archers  and 
musketeers. 

The  orders  above  mentioned  having  been  communi- 
cated, the  two  captains  who  were  assigned  to  the  cities 
of  Tacuba  and  Cuyoacan,  after  receiving  instructions  as 


260  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

to  what  they  were  to  do,  departed  from  Tezcuco  on  the 
tenth  of  May,  and  took  up  their  quarters  for  the  night 
two  leagues  and  a  half  from  there  at  the  fine  village  of 
Aculman.  The  same  day  I  ascertained  there  had  been 
some  difference  between  the  captains  on  the  subject  of 
quarters,  and  I  took  means  at  once  the  same  night  to 
remedy  it,  and  make  peace  between  them ;  and  I  sent  a 
person  on  this  errand,  who  reproved  them  and  brought 
about  a  reconciliation.  The  next  morning  they  left  that 
place,  and  proceeded  to  another  village  called  Jilotepe- 
que,  [Juitepec,]  which  they  found  deserted,  as  it  was 
in  the  enemy's  country.  The  next  day  they  pursued 
their  route  according  to  their  orders,  and  reached  the 
city  of  Guatitlan,  of  which  I  have  before  made  mention 
to  your  Majesty,  which  they  also  found  abandoned  by  its 
inhabitants.  The  same  day  they  passed  through  two 
other  cities  and  villages,  which  were  also  deserted.  At 
the  hour  of  vespers  they  entered  Tacuba,  and  finding  no 
inhabitants,  took  up  their  quarters  in  the  houses  of  the 
Cacique,  which  are  very  spacious  and  handsome  ;  and 
although  it  was  evening,  the  Tlascallans  paid  a  visit  to 
the  entrance  of  two  causeways  leading  to  the  city  of  Te- 
mixtitan,  and  fought  two  or  three  hours  gallantly  against 
the  troops  of  the  city,  until  the  night  separated  them, 
when  they  returned  in  safety  to  Tacuba. 

The  next  morning  the  two  captains  determined,  as  I 
had  ordered  them,  to  cut  off  the  fresh  water  that  is  car- 
ried by  pipes  into  the  city  of  Temixtitan  ;  and  one  of 
them  with  twenty  horse  and  several  musketeers  and 
bowmen  proceeded  to  the  head  of  the  aqueduct,  which 
is  a  quarter  of  a  league  distant,  and  cut  and  broke  the 
pipes,  that  were  composed  of  wood,  stone  and  mortar, 
and  fought  resolutely  with  the  people  of  the  city,  who  de- 


CONQUEST   OF    MEXICO.  261 

fended  the  aqueduct  by  land  and  water ;  they  finally 
routed  the  enemy,  and  completed  their  purpose  by  stop- 
ping the  course  of  the  fresh  water  from  which  the  city 
was  supplied — a  very  politic  movement. 

The  same  day  the  captains  put  in  order  several  dan- 
gerous passes,  bridges,  and  canals,  that  were  round  the 
lake,  so  that  the  horsemen  could  move  freely  from  one 
part  to  the  other.  While  this  was  doing,  which  caused 
a  delay  of  three  or  four  days,  they  had  many  rencoun- 
ters with  the  citizens,  in  which  some  of  the  Spaniards 
were  wounded  and  many  of  the  enemy  killed ;  several  dikes 
and  bridges  were  taken ;  and  speeches  and  challenges  were 
exchanged  between  the  citizens  and  the  Tlascallans,  which 
were  well  worthy  of  notice.  Captain  Cristobal  Dolid 
then  departed  with  the  division  of  the  army  that  had 
been  assigned  to  the  city  of  Cuyoacan,  two  leagues  from 
Tacuba ;  and  Captain  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  was  left  with 
his  division  at  Tacuba,  where  every  day  he  was  engaged 
in  skirmishes  and  battles  with  the  Indians.  The  same 
day  that  Cristobal  Dolid  set  out  for  Cuyoacan,  he  and 
his  men  reached  that  place  at  ten  o'clock,  and  took  up 
their  quarters  in  the  houses  of  the  cacique,  the  city 
being  deserted  by  the  inhabitants.  The  next  morning 
they  paid  a  visit  to  the  causeway  that  leads  into  Temixti- 
tan,  with  about  twenty  horse  and  several  archers,  and 
six  or  seven  thousand  Tlascallans  ;  when  they  found  the 
inhabitants  well  prepared,  the  causeway  broken  up,  and 
many  dikes  erected  as  defences.  They  engaged  with  the 
enemy,  and  the  archers  wounded  and  killed  several  of 
their  number.  These  visits  were  repeated  for  six  or 
seven  days,  during  each  of  which  several  encounters  and 
skirmishes  took  place.  On  one  night,  about  midnight, 
there  came  certain  scouts  from  the  city,  making  loud 

34 


262  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

shoutings  about  our  quarters,  when  the  Spanish  sentinels 
called  "  to  arms  ;"  the  men  rushed  forth,  but  found  none 
of  the  enemy,  the  shoutings  that  had  caused  the  alarm 
being  heard  from  a  distance.  As  our  force  was  divided 
into  so  many  parts,  these  two  divisions  desired  my  arri- 
val with  the  brigantines  as  their  only  safety  ;  and  with 
this  hope  they  waited  some  few  days  until  I  arrived,  as  I 
shall  hereafter  relate.  During  those  six  days  the  two 
divisions  met  in  the  course  of  the  day,  as  they  were  near 
one  another,  and  the  cavalry  scoured  the  country,  always 
destroying  with  their  lances  many  of  the  enemy ;  they 
also  collected  from  the  neighboring  heights  a  large  quan- 
tity of  maize,  of  which  bread  is  made,  the  principal  food 
of  the  people  in  this  region,  and  much  superior  to  that  of 
the  islands. 

In  the  preceding  chapters  I  stated  that  I  remained  at 
Tesaico  with  three  hundred  men  and  the  thirteen  bri- 
gantines ;  as  soon  as  I  ascertained  that  the  divisions  of 
the  army  had  reached  their  positions,  I  embarked  and 
took  a  look  at  the  city,  doing  some  injury  to  the  canoes. 
Although  I  was  very  desirous  of  being  upon  the  land  for 
the  purpose  of  directing  the  movements  of  the  army, 
yet  as  the  captains  were  persons  who  could  be  safely  en- 
trusted with  the  business  committed  to  them,  and  the 
charge  of  the  brigantines  was  one  of  much  importance, 
and  required  great  concert  of  action  and  care,  I  deter- 
mined to  embark  in  them,  the  greatest  advantage  as  well 
as  risk  being  likely  to  occur  by  water ;  notwithstanding 
I  was  formally  requested  by  the  principal  persons  with 
me  to  join  the  divisions,  as  in  their  opinion  most  exposed 
to  danger.  The  next  day  after  the  feast  of  Corpus 
Christi,  [the  Ascension,]  Friday,  at  dawn  of  day,  I  de- 
spatched Gonzalo  de  Sandoval  with  his  division  from 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  263 

Tesaico,  in  a  direct  course  to  the  city  of  Iztapalapa,  six 
short  leagues  distant ;  at  a  little  past  noon  they  arrived 
there,  and  immediately  began  to  set  fire  to  the  city  and 
attack  the  inhabitants.  As  soon  as  they  saw  the  large 
force  under  the  command  of  the  alguazil  mayor,  (for  he 
had  with  him  35  or  40,000  men  of  our  allies,)  the  people 
took  refuge  in  their  canoes  on  the  lake.  The  alguazil 
mayor,  with  his  whole  force,  took  up  his  quarters  in  that 
city,  and  remained  there  a  day,  waiting  my  orders  and 
watching  my  movements. 

After  I  had  despatched  the  alguazil  mayor,  I  imme- 
diately went  on  board  the  brigantines,  and  by  the  aid  of 
sails  and  oars  we  took  our  departure  ;  and  while  the  algua- 
zil mayor  was  engaged  in  fighting  and  setting  fire  to  the 
city  of  Iztapalapa,  we  arrived  in  sight  of  a  large  and 
strongly  fortified  hill  near  that  city,  occupying  an  insu- 
lated situation  in  the  lake  ;  there  were  many  people  on 
it,  as  well  of  those  dwelling  round  the  lake,  as  from  Te- 
mixtitan  ;  for  they  knew  well  that  the  first  encounter 
would  be  with  the  people  of  Iztapalapa,  and  they  were 
there  to  defend  themselves,  and  if  possible  to  attack  us. 
As  soon  as  they  saw  our  fleet  approach,  they  began  to 
shout  and  make  great  smokes  as  a  signal  to  inform  all 
the  cities  of  the  lakes  of  our  coming,  that  they  might  be 
in  readiness  to  meet  us.  Although  my  plan  was  to  attack 
the  part  of  the  city  of  Iztapalapa  that  was  situated  on 
the  water,  we  turned  against  this  hill,  and  I  leaped  upon 
it  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  It  was  very  steep 
and  high,  and  it  was  with  much  difficulty  that  we  began 
to  ascend  it ;  and  we  took  by  storm  the  entrenchments 
which  they  had  raised  on  its  summit  for  their  defence. 
We  came  upon  them  in  such  a  manner  that  not  one  of 
them  escaped  except  the  women  and  children  ;  and  in 


264  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

this  combat  twenty-five  Spaniards  were  wounded,  but  a 
most  brilliant  victory  was  obtained. 

As  the  people  of  Iztapalapa  had  made  signals  of  smoke 
from  the  towers  of  their  idols,  situated  on  a  very  lofty 
elevation  very  near  the  city,  the  Mexicans  and  inhabit- 
ants of  the  other  cities  on  the  lakes  knew  that  I  was 
entering  the  lake  with  the  brigantines  ;  and  all  at  once 
an  immense  fleet  of  canoes  was  assembled  to  attack  us, 
and  discover  what  sort  of  things  the  brigantines  were ; 
so  far  as  we  could  judge  they  exceeded  five  hundred  in 
number.  As  soon  as  I  saw  that  they  were  bending  their 
course  directly  towards  us,  I  with  the  men  who  had  landed 
on  the  hill  went  on  board  in  much  baste,  and  I  ordered 
the  commanders  of  the  brigantines  by  no  means  to  move, 
since  the  canoes  were  determined  to  attack  us,  and  would 
believe  that  from  fear  we  did  not  venture  out  to  meet 
them  ;  so  in  great  force  the  enemy  began  to  direct  their 
course  towarcls  us.  But  when  within  about  two  bow-shots 
they  halted  and  remained  quiet ;  and  in  the  mean  time, 
while  I  was  anxious  that  the  first  encounter  we  had  with 
them  should  be  marked  by  a  signal  victory,  and  inspire 
them  with  great  dread  of  the  brigantines,  which  were 
the  key  of  the  whole  war,  as  both  the  enemy  and  our- 
selves would  suffer  most  by  water — it  pleased  our  Lord 
that  while  we  were  looking  at  one  another,  a  wind  arose 
from  the  land  favorable  to  an  attack  upon  them,  and  I 
instantly  gave  orders  to  the  commanders  to  break  through 
the  fleet  of  canoes,  and  pursue  them  until  they  took  re- 
fuge in  the  city  of  Temixtitan.  As  the  wind  was  fair, 
we  bore  down  upon  the  midst  of  them,  and  although 
they  fled  as  fast  as  possible,  we  broke  an  immense  num- 
ber of  canoes,  and  destroyed  many  of  the  enemy  in  a 
style  worthy  of  admiration.     In  the  chase  we  followed 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  265 

them  full  three  long  leagues,  till  they  were  locked  up 
amongst  the  houses  of  the  city  ;  and  thus  it  pleased  our 
Lord  to  grant  us  a  greater  and  more  complete  victory 
than  we  had  ventured  to  ask  or  desire. 

The  division  of  the  army  posted  at  Cuyoacan  was 
better  able  than  that  stationed  in  the  city  of  Tacuba  to 
see  the  movements  of  the  brigantines  ;  and  when  they 
espied  the  thirteen  sail  upon  the  lake,  and  observed  the 
rapidity  with  which  we  moved,  and  that  we  dispersed 
all  the  canoes  of  the  enemy,  it  was  to  them,  as  they 
afterwards  assured  me,  the  most  gratifying  spectacle,  as 
well  as  the  most  desirable  one,  in  the  world.  I  have 
already  stated  that  both  divisions  were  extremely  anxious 
for  my  arrival,  and  with  good  reason,  for  they  were  in 
the  midst  of  a  vast  multitude  of  the  enemy ;  but  it 
pleased  our  Lord  to  raise  the  courage  of  our  troops,  and 
weaken  that  of  the  enemy,  so  that  they  were  unable  to 
summon  resolution  enough  to  attack  our  camp ;  which 
if  they  had  done  the  Spaniards  could  not  fail  to  have 
received  great  injury,  though  they  were  always  well  pre- 
pared, and  resolved  to  conquer  or  die,  since  they  were 
cut  off  from  all  succor  save  that  which  they  hoped  from 
God.  So  when  the  division  at  Cuyoacan  discovered  us 
in  pursuit  of  the  canoes,  the  greater  part  of  the  horse 
and  foot  that  were  there  took  up  the  line  of  march  for 
the  city  of  Temixtitan,  and  bravely  engaged  with  the 
Indians  on  the  causeway  ;*  they  gained  the  trenches  that 
had  been  made  by  the  enemy,  took  them,  and  passed 
horse  and  foot  over  many  bridges  that  they  had  aban- 
doned, being  favored  in  their  movements  by  the  brigan- 
tines, which  approached  near  to  the  causeway.     The 

*  On  the  causeway  of  La  Piedad,  which  leads  to  Cuyoacan,  there  are  at  this 
day  eight  or  nine  bridges, — L. 


266  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

Indians  of  Tlascala,  our  allies,  and  the  Spaniards  pur- 
sued the  enemy,  made  great  havoc  amongst  them  and 
cast  them  into  the  water  on  the  side  of  the  causeway 
opposite  that  approached  by  the  brigantines.  In  this 
manner  they  proceeded  victoriously  more  than  a  long 
league  on  the  causeway,  until  they  reached  the  spot 
where  I  had  hove  to  with  the  brigantines,  as  I  shall 
hereafter  relate. 

We  proceeded  with  the  brigantines  full  three  leagues 
in  chase  of  the  canoes ;  of  which  those  that  escaped  us 
took  refuge  amongst  the  houses  of  the  city,  and  as  it  was 
after  vespers,  I  ordered  the  vessels  to  be  called  in,  and 
sailed  with  them  to  the  causeway,  where  I  resolved  to 
land  with  thirty  men  to  take  two  small  towers  of  idols, 
that  were  enclosed  by  a  low  wall  of  stone  and  mortar  ; 
and  when  we  had  landed,  the  enemy  fought  very  spiritedly 
in  defence  of  the  towers,  which  at  length  after  a  long 
and  perilous  struggle  we  succeeded  in  taking.  I  then 
immediately  caused  three  heavy  iron  pieces  of  ordnance 
which  I  had  brought  with  me,  to  be  mounted  on  the 
causeway.  As  the  rest  of  the  causeway  as  far  as  the 
city,  a  distance  of  half  a  league,  was  covered  with 
crowds  of  the  enemy,  and  both  sides  of  it  thronged  with 
canoes  full  of  warriors,  I  caused  one  of  the  guns  to  be 
levelled,  which  raked  the  causeway,  making  great  havoc 
amongst  them.  Owing  to  the  carelessness  of  the  gunner 
at  the  place  where  we  fired,  all  the  powder  we  had 
there  was  burnt ;  the  quantity,  however,  was  not  large. 
I  immediately  sent  the  same  night  a  brigantine  to  Izta- 
palapa,  where  the  alguazil  mayor  was,  about  two  leagues 
ofF,  to  bring  all  the  powder  he  had.  Although  it  had 
been  my  intention  at  first,  as  soon  as  I  embarked  in  the 
brigantines,  to  go  to  Cuyoacan,  and  place  it  in  a  strong 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  267 

condition,  that  the  army  might  move  with  great  caution, 
and  annoy  the  enemy  as  much  as  possible ;  yet  on  the 
day  I  landed  upon  the  causeway  and  took  the  two  towers, 
I  determined  to  occupy  that  position  with  my  camp,  and 
to  assemble  the  brigantines  near  the  towers.  I  also  or- 
dered half  of  the  force  at  Cuyoacan  and  fifty  other  foot 
soldiers  belonging  to  the  alguazil  mayor's  division  to 
repair  to  tjhe  same  place  on  the  next  day.  These  mea- 
sures being  taken,  we  remained  there  that  night  with 
the  utmost  caution ;  for  we  were  exposed  to  great  dan- 
ger, as  all  the  people  of  the  city  had  poured  forth  along 
the  causeway  and  on  the  water  for  the  common  defence  ; 
and  at  midnight  a  great  multitude  came  in  canoes  and 
on  the  causeway  to  attack  our  camp.  We  were  thrown 
into  some  degree  of  alarm  by  this  movement  of  the 
enemy,  especially  as  it  was  night,  and  they  were  never 
known  to  make  an  assault  by  night  unless  fully  assured 
of  victory.  But  as  our  men  were  well  prepared  to  re- 
ceive them,  we  began  to  engage  in  the  fight,  opening  a 
fire  on  them  with  the  small  field  pieces  in  the  brigantines, 
(each  of  which  carried  one,)  and  also  from  the  archers 
and  musketeers.  By  this  means  their  advance  was 
checked  before  they  had  been  able  to  do  us  any  harm,  and 
we  passed  the  remainder  of  the  night  without  any  further 
annoyance. 

The  next  morning  at  day-light,  there  arrived  in  the 
camp  on  the  causeway,  where  I  was  posted,  fifteen  archers 
and  musketeers,  fifty  men  armed  with  sword  and  buckler, 
and  seven  or  eight  horse,  from  the  division  of  Cuyoacan  ; 
and  at  the  time  of  their  coming  we  were  engaged  in  bat- 
tle with  the  people  from  the  city  in  canoes  and  along  the 
causeway,  and  the  multitude  was  so  great  that  neither 
by  land  or  water  could  we  see  any  thing  but  human  be- 


268  LETTERS    OP    CORTES. 

ings,  who  uttered  such  dreadful  howls  and  outcries  that 
it  seemed  as  if  the  world  would  come  to  an  end.  We 
fought  them  on  the  causeway,  and  gained  possession  of  a 
bridge  which  they  had  abandoned  and  an  entrenchment 
they  had  made  at  its  entrance.  With  the  aid  of  our  guns 
and  the  cavalry,  we  made  such  an  impression  on  them, 
that  we  drove  them  for  refuge  almost  into  the  nearest 
houses  of  the  city.  As  on  the  other  side  of  the  causeway, 
to  which  the  brigantines  could  not  pass,  many  canoes 
came  up,  and  annoyed  us  much  with  the  arrows  and  darts 
that  they  discharged  along  the  causeway,  I  caused  an 
opening  to  be  made  in  it  near  our  camp,  and  four  brigan- 
tines to  pass  through,  which,  as  they  passed,  dispersed  all 
the  canoes,  which  fled  to  the  settled  part  of  the  city  ;  so 
that  they  were  unable  to  sally  forth  into  any  part  of  the 
lake.  On  the  other  side  of  the  causeway,  the  eight  brig- 
antines contended  with  the  canoes,  and  drove  them  in 
amongst  the  houses  of  the  city,  pursuing  them  into  the 
same  quarter,  where  we  had  not  ventured  before  on  ac- 
count of  the  many  shallow  places  and  stakes  that  inter- 
rupted our  progress.  When  we  discovered  the  canals  by 
which  a  secure  entrance  was  afforded  to  the  city,  we  en- 
gaged with  the  canoes  in  the  suburbs,  and  took  some  of 
them,  and  burned  many  houses  in  that  quarter  of  the  city. 
All  this  day  we  spent  in  combating  with  the  enemy,  as  I 
have  related. 

The  following  day  the  alguazil  mayor  with  the  people 
whom  he  had  at  Iztapalapa,  both  Spaniards  and  allies, 
departed  for  Cuyoacan,  from  which  place  a  causeway 
extends  to  the  main  land,  a  distance  of  about  a  league 
and  a  half.  At  the  commencement  of  his  march,  the 
alguazil  mayor  arrived  at  a  small  city  [Mexicaltzingo] 
about  a  quarter  of  a  league  from  Iztapalapa,  which  was 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  269 

situated  on  the  water,  and  over  many  parts  of  it  one  can 
ride  on  horseback ;  the  inhabitants  of  this  place  began  to 
attack  him,  but  he  defeated  them,  killing  many  and  burn- 
ing and  destroying  the  whole  city.  When  I  learned  that 
the  Indians  had  made  a  considerable  breach  in  the  cause- 
way, so  that  the  people  could  no  longer  pass  over  it  with 
ease,  I  sent  two  brigantines  to  assist  them  in  passing,  of 
which  they  formed  a  bridge  for  the  infantry  to  cross  over 
the  breach.  As  soon  as  they  had  passed,  they  went  to 
lodge  at  Cuyoacan,  and  the  alguazil  mayor  with  ten  horse- 
men took  the  road  to  the  causeway  where  we  had  fixed 
our  camp,  and  when  he  arrived,  he  found  us  engaged  in 
combat ;  dismounting  with  his  followers,  he  and  they 
joined  in  the  action  against  the  enemy  on  the  causeway, 
with  whom  we  had  become  again  involved.  When  the 
alguazil  mayor  took  part  in  the  battle,  he  received  a  wound 
in  the  foot  from  a  lance ;  but  although  they  wounded  him 
and  several  others  that  day,  we  did  them  much  harm 
with  our  heavy  ordnance,  as  well  as  bowmen  and  mus- 
keteers ;  so  that  neither  in  the  canoes,  nor  on  the  cause- 
way, did  they  dare  to  approach  us,  but  manifested  greater 
fear  and  less  assurance  than  they  were  wont  to  do.  We 
were  thus  engaged  six  days,  during  every  one  of  which 
we  encountered  the  enemy :  and  the  brigantines  passed 
round  the  city,  burning  all  the  houses  they  could,  having 
discovered  a  canal  by  which  they  could  enter  the  envi- 
rons and  the  suburbs,  and  even  approach  the  main  part 
of  the  city,  which  had  a  very  favorable  effect,  and  made 
the  canoes  discontinue  their  hostile  visits,  none  of  them 
daring  to  appear  within  a  quarter  of  a  league  of  our 
camp. 

The  next  day  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  who  was  stationed 
with  the.  division  of  the  army  at  Tacuba,  informed  me 

35 


270  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

that,  on  the  other  side  of  the  city,  there  was  a  causeway 
which  led  to  the  villages  on  the  main  land,  together  with 
a  small  one  connected  with  it,  by  means  of  which  the  in- 
habitants entered  and  went  out  when  they  pleased  ;  and 
he  believed  that  when  they  saw  themselves  compelled  by 
necessity,  they  would  all  make  their  escape  that  way* 
Although  I  rather  desired  their  departure  from  the  city, 
as  we  could  succeed  better  against  them  on  terra  firma 
than  in  a  great  fortress  on  the  water ;  nevertheless,  in 
order  that  they  might  be  wholly  surrounded,  and  without 
the  power  of  making  any  progress  on  the  main  land,  I 
ordered  the  alguazil  mayor,  wounded  as  he  was,  to  es- 
tablish his  quarters  in  a  small  town  to  which  one  of  the 
two  causeways  referred  to  extended.*  He  accordingly 
went  thither  with  twenty-three  horse,  one  hundred  foot, 
and  eighteen  bowmen  and  musketeers,  leaving  me  the 
other  fifty  foot,  which  I  had  with  my  own  force  ;  and  on 
his  arrival  he  encamped  where  I  had  directed  him.  Thus 
from  that  time  the  city  of  Temixtitan  was  invested  on  all 
sides,  wherever  it  communicated  by  causeways  with 
terra  firma. 

I  had,  most  powerful  Sire,  in  the  camp  on  the  cause- 
way two  hundred  Spanish  infantry,  amongst  whom  were 
twenty-five  archers  and  musketeers,  exclusive  of  the  men 
in  the  brigantines,  who  were  more  than  two  hundred  and 
fifty  in  number.  In  order  that  we  might  keep  the  enemy 
closely  invested,  and  retain  a  large  number  of  warriors 
for  our  allies,  I  resolved  to  enter  the  city  as  far  as  possi- 
ble, and  that  the  brigantines  should  afford  us  their  sup- 
port on  both  sides  of  the  causeway.  I  also  directed  that 
some  of  the  horse  and  foot  from  the  division  at  Cuyoacan 
should  repair  to  the  camp,  that  they  might  enter  with  us, 

*  Now  Tepayac,  on  the  north  side  of  the  city,  called  by  Bernal  Diaz  Tepeaquilla. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  271 

and  that  ten  horsemen  should  be  left  at  the  end  of  the 
causeway,  as  a  support  to  our  troops.  But  some  of  the 
allies  left  at  Cuyoacan  had  rebelled  and  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  city,  amongst  whom  were  the  inhabitants  of 
the  cities  of  Suchimilco,  Culuacan,  Iztapalapa,  Chilo- 
busco,  Mexicalcingo,  Cuitaguacad,  and  Mizquique,  all  of 
which  lie  upon  the  lake.  These  seeking  to  attack  us  in 
the  rear,  I  ordered  ten  or  twelve  horse  to  guard  the  cause- 
way, and  as  many  more  to  remain  at  Cuyoacan,  together 
with  more  than  ten  thousand  of  our  allies.  I  also  ordered 
the  alguazil  mayor  and  Pedro  de  Alvarado  to  attack  the 
city  from  their  posts  at  the  same  time,  in  order  that  I 
might  gain  as  much  as  possible  on  my  side. 

Having  thus  made  my  arrangements,  I  sallied  forth  in 
the  morning  from  the  camp,  and  marched  on  foot  along 
the  causeway  towards  the  city.  We  soon  found  the 
enemy  in  defence  of  a  breach  that  had  been  made  in  the 
road,  as  wide  as  the  length  of  a  lance,  and  of  the  same 
depth,  where  they  had  formed  an  entrenchment.  Here 
an  action  ensued,  in  which  valor  was  shown  on  both 
sides.  At  length  we  prevailed,  and  pursued  our  route 
along  the  causeway  until  we  arrived  at  the  entrance  of 
the  city,  where  stood  a  tower  of  idols,  and  near  its  base 
a  very  large  bridge  that  was  raised,  under  which  a  broad 
street  of  water*  passed,  defended  by  a  strong  entrench- 
ment. As  soon  as  we  reached  this  place,  the  enemy 
began  to  attack  us  ;  but  as  the  brigantines  were  on  both 
sides  the  road,  we  carried  the  entrenchment  without  loss, 
which  we  could  not  have  done  unless  aided  by  the  bri- 
gantines. When  the  enemy  began  to  abandon  the 
ground,  the  people  in  the  brigantines  disembarked,  and 
we  passed  over  the  water  by  means  of  them,  together 

*  Una  calle  de  agua ;  so  Cortes  terms  the  canals. 


272  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

with  the  allies  from  Tlascala,  Guajocingo,  Chalco,  and 
Tesaico,  in  all  more  than  eighty  thousand  men.  While  we 
wene  employed  in  filling  up  with  stone  and  brick  the  breach 
made  by  the  destruction  of  the  bridge,  the  Spaniards  gained 
another  entrenchment  on  the  principal  and  widest  street 
in  the  whole  city.  As  it  contained  no  water,  the  entrench- 
ment was  easily  carried.  They  then  pursued  their  route 
along  the  street  until  they  arrived  at  another  bridge, 
which  the  enemy  had  raised,  excepting  only  one  piece  of 
timber,  over  which  they  passed.  Having  reached  a  place 
of  safety,  rendered  secure  by  the  intervention  of  water, 
they  immediately  took  away  the  beam.  On  another  part 
of  the  ground  adjoining  the  bridge  on  the  opposite  side, 
the  enemy  had  constructed  another  large  entrenchment 
of  clay  and  unburnt  bricks.  When  we  reached  this  spot, 
we  were  unable  to  cross  without  throwing  ourselves  into 
the  water,  and  this  was  attended  with  great  danger,  as 
the  inhabitants  fought  with  resolute  valor.  On  both  sides 
of  the  street  there  was  an  immense  multitude  of  them, 
who  attacked  us  in  a  courageous  manner  from  the  ter- 
races ;  but  when  a  number  of  our  archers  and  muske- 
teers arrived,  and  we  discharged  the  two  cannon  so  as 
to  rake  the  street,  we  did  them  great  mischief.  As 
soon  as  this  was  known,  several  Spaniards  threw  them- 
selves into  the  water,  and  passed  to  the  other  side.  Imme- 
diately the  enemy,  on  seeing  this  movement,  abandoned 
the  entrenchment  and  the  terraces,  and  fled  through  the 
street,  so  that  all  our  force  passed  over.  We  were  en- 
gaged more  than  two  hours  in  carrying  this  entrenchment. 
I  gave  directions  at  once  to  fill  up  the  space  over  which 
the  bridge  had  passed,  and  to  demolish  the  entrenchment; 
and  in  the  mean  time,  the  Spaniards  and  our  Indian  al- 
lies pursued  their  way  along  the  street,  full  two  bow- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  273 

shots,  when  they  came  to  another  bridge,  near  a  square 
occupied  by  some  of  the  principal  buildings  in  the  city. 
This  bridge  had  not  been  removed,  nor  had  any  en- 
trenchment been  made  upon  it ;  for  the  enemy  had  not 
imagined  that  we  should  gain  that  day  any  part  of  what 
had  already  fallen  into  our  hands,  nor  had  we  ourselves 
expected  to  accomplish  more  than  one-half  as  much.     I 
placed  a  piece  of  ordnance  at  the  entrance  to  this  square, 
from  which  the  enemy  received  much  anno37'ance,  al- 
though they  were  so  thronged  that  none  could  be  seen 
to  fall.     When  the  Spaniards  discovered  that  there  was 
no  water  there,  from  which  danger  was  wont  to  arise, 
they  resolved  to  enter  the  square  ;  and  as  soon  as  the 
enemy  saw  this  determination  carried  into  effect,  and 
perceived  the  great  multitudes  of  our  allies,  although 
without  us  they  would  have  had  no  great  fear  of  them, 
they  turned  their  backs,  and  the  Spaniards  and  our  allies 
pursued  them,  until  they  took  refuge  within  the  enclo- 
sure of  the  temple,  surrounded  by  a  wall  of  stone  and 
lime.     This  enclosure,  as  described  in  my  former  rela- 
tion, possesses  an  extent  equal  to  a  town  containing  four 
hundred  families  ;  it  was  soon,  however,  abandoned  by 
the  enemy,  and  the  Spaniards  with  our  allies  took  pos- 
session of  it,  and  remained  for  some  within  it,  a,nd  in 
the  towers. 

When  the  inhabitants  saw  that  there  was  no  cavalry 
with  the  party,  they  rallied  and  returned  to  attack  the 
Spaniards,  whom  they  forcibly  expelled  from  the  towers, 
the  court,  and  the  whole  enclosure,  placing  them  in  cir- 
cumstances of  great  danger  and  difficulty ;  and  as  they 
continued  to  retreat,  they  took  refuge  under  the  gateways 
leading  to  the  court.  But  the  enemy  annoyed  them 
so  much,  that,  abandoning  this  position,  they  retreated 


274  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

■again  into  the  public  square,  from  whence  they  were 
driven  with  great  violence  into  the  street,  so  that  they 
were  obliged  to  leave  behind  the  gun  that  was  on  the 
square.  As  the  Spaniards  could  not  sustain  the  attacks 
of  the  enemy,  they  continued  to  retreat,  exposed  to  much 
danger ;  to  which,  indeed,  they  would  have  fallen  vic- 
tims, but  that  it  pleased  God  three  of  the  cavalry 
should  arrive  at  this  juncture  and  enter  the  square,  which 
the  enemy  no  sooner  perceived  than  they  believed  more 
were  coming,  and  began  to  fly.  The  Spaniards  killed 
some  of  them,  and  regained  possession  of  the  court  and 
enclosure  that  I  have  mentioned  above.  Ten  or  twelve 
of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  city  took  refuge  in  the 
largest  and  highest  tower  of  the  temple,  having  a  hundred 
and  more  steps  leading  up  to  it,  where  they  fortified 
themselves  ;  but  four  or  five  Spaniards  forced  their  way 
up,  and  although  the  Mexicans  defended  themselves  re- 
solutely, overpowered  them,  and  destroyed  the  lives  of 
the  whole.  Afterwards  five  or  six  more  of  the  cavalry 
arrived,  who  with  others  formed  an  ambuscade,  by 
means  of  which  they  despatched  more  than  thirty  of  the 
enemy.  As  it  was  already  evening,  I  ordered  our  peo- 
ple to  be  collected  and  to  retreat ;  and  while  they  were 
retreating,  the  multitude  of  the  enemy  so  pressed  upon 
them,  that  had  knot  been  for  the  cavalry  the  Spaniards 
would  have  suffered  great  loss. 

But  as  all  the  difficult  places  in  the  street  and  on  the 
causeway,  where  danger  was  anticipated,  had  been 
filled  up  and  levelled  by  me  at  the  time  of  the  retreat, 
the  horse  could  now  enter  or  depart  over  them  with  ease ; 
so  that  when  the  enemy  assailed  our  rearguard,  the 
cavalry  returning  charged  upon  them,  continually  des- 
troying and  despatching  them  with  their  lances  ;  and  as 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  275 

the  street  was  very  broad,  there  was  room  enough  to 
perform  this  manoeuvre  several  times.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  enemy  saw  that  they  suffered  by  this  means,  the 
dogs  rushed  on  in  such  a  rabid  manner  that  we  could 
not  stop  them,  nor  would  they  desist  from  following  us. 
The  whole  day  would  have  been  spent  in  this  manner, 
had  they  not  taken  possession  of  several  terraces  that 
projected  into  the  street,  from  which  the  cavalry  were 
exposed  to  great  annoyance ;  and  so  we  hastened  through 
the  street  to  our  camp,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  Spa- 
niard, although  we  had  many  wounded.  In  our  retreat 
we  set  fire  to  the  best  houses  on  the  street,  that  when 
we  entered  the  city  again,  the  enemy  might  not  annoy 
us  from  the  terraces.  The  same  day  the  alguazil 
mayor  and  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  at  their  respective  sta- 
tions, encountered  the  enemy  in  a  very  gallant  manner ; 
and  at  the  time  of  the  combats  we  were  a  league  and  a 
half  from  the  one,  and  a  league  from  the  other.  The  po- 
pulation of  the  city,  however,  is  of  so  great  an  extent, 
that  it  makes  the  distances  seem  less.  The  allies,  who 
were  with  those  leaders  in  immense  numbers,  fought 
well,  and  fell  back  that  day  without  loss. 

In  the  mean  time,  Don  Fernando,  lord  of  the  city  of 
Tesaico  and  the  Province  of  Aculuacan,  of  whom  I  have 
above  made  mention  to  your  Majesty,  had  succeeded  in 
drawing  to  our  standard  the  people  of  his  city  and  pro- 
vince, especially  the  most  prominent  persons,  although 
they  were  not  so  decided  in  their  friendship  as  they  after- 
wards proved.  Every  day  many  caciques,  and  some  of 
his  own  brothers,  joined  Don  Fernando  with  the  deter- 
mination to  take  sides  with  us,  and  oppose  the  Mexicans. 
As  Don  Fernando  was  a  young  man,  and  had  a  strong 
regard  for  the  Spaniards,  knowing  that  he  had  obtained 


276  LETTERS   OF   CORTES. 

his  great  seignory  over  others  whose  right  of  succession 
was  superior  to  his  own,  by  the  favor  of  your  Majesty,  he 
labored  to  the  utmost  to  induce  all  his  subjects  to  engage 
in  the  war  against  the  city,  and  share  toil  and  danger  with 
us.  He  conferred  with  his  brothers,  six  or  seven  in  num- 
ber, all  well  disposed  young  men,  and  begged  them  to 
come  to  my  assistance  with  all  the  people  of  their  dis- 
tricts. One  of  them,  named  Istrisuchil,  twenty-three  or 
four  years  of  age,  of  great  gallantry,  and  beloved  and 
feared  by  all,  he  sent  as  a  leader,  who  arrived  in  the 
camp  of  the  causeway  with  more  than  'thirty-thousand 
men,  well  equipped  in  their  manner;  and  twenty 
thousand  more  joined  the  other  two  camps.  I  received 
them  joyfully,  thanking  them  for  their  good  disposition 
and  conduct.  Your  imperial  Majesty  may  well  consider 
whether  it  was  not  a  desirable  reinforcement,  and  sub- 
stantial proof  of  friendship  on  the  part  of  Don  Fernando, 
and  imagine  what  the  people  of  Temixtitan  thought  when 
they  saw  coming  against  them  the  people  who  were 
their  vassals,  friends,  relations,  brethren,  and  even  fathers 
and  sons.* 


*  Don  Fernando,  lord  of  Tezcuco,  having  been  recently  baptized,  acted  in 
such  a  manner  that  neither  the  most  fervent  Christian,  nor  the  most  valiant  cap- 
tain, could  surpass  him  in  honorable  conduct ;  and  by  these  glorious  deeds,  and 
not  by  lies,  the  Indians  should  be  judged. — L. 

M.  Ternaux  has  published,  in  his  valuable  collection,  a  memoir  written 
originally  in  the  Mexican  language  by  a  descendant  of  the  caciques  of  Tezcuco, 
in  which  the  events  of  the  conquest  are  briefly  described.  The  Mexican  name 
of  the  author  is  Ixtlibsochitl,  which  is  probably  the  same  written  by  Cortes  in  the 
text  Istrisuchil.  This  memoir  was  published  in  the  Spanish  language  at  Mexico 
in  1829,  edited  by  Don  Carlos  Maria  de  Bustamante,  who  denounces  the  Tezcu- 
cans  in  unmeasured  terms  for  their  friendship  to  the  Conqueror.  Bustamante  is 
of  Indian  descent,  and  distinguished  for  his  literary  attainments.  There  is  a 
notice  of  him  in  that  agreeable  work,  Mdme.  Calderon's  Life  in  Mexico,  vol.  ii. 
pp.  123-4-5. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  277 

The  combat  in  the  city  lasted  two  days,  as  I  have  above 
described  ;  and  besides  these  succors,  the  inhabitants  of 
the  city  of  Suchimilco,  situated  on  the  lake,  and  certain 
villages  of  the  Utumies,  (Otomites,)  a  mountain  race, 
more  numerous  than  those  of  Suchimilco,  and  slaves  of 
the  lord  of  Temixtitan,  came  to  offer  themselves  as  vas- 
sals of  your  Majesty,  begging  me  to  pardon  their  dilato- 
riness.  I  received  them  well,  and  was  much  gratified 
by  their  arrival,  as  they  were  more  likely  than  any  others 
to  make  an  impression  on  the  people  of  Cuyoacan. 

As  from  the  camp  of  the  causeway  where  I  was  posted, 
we  had  by  means  of  the  brigantines  burned  many  houses 
in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  and  no  canoe  dared  to  make 
its  appearance  in  that  quarter,  it  seemed  to  me  that  seven 
brigantines  would  be  sufficient  for  the  security  of  our 
position,  and  I  therefore  determined  to  send  three  to  the 
camp  of  the  alguazil  mayor,  and  the  same  number  to  that 
of  Pedro  de  Alvarado.  I  gave  particular  instructions  to 
the  commanders  of  these  brigantines,  to  run  day  and 
night  from  one  camp  to  the  other,  some  one  way  and 
some  the  other,  since  the  enemy  were  in  the  habit  of 
visiting  the  part  of  the  main  land  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
two  camps  with  their  canoes,  which  they  loaded  with 
water,  fruits,  maize,  and  other  supplies ;  and  besides  I 
directed  them  to  aid  the  two  divisions  of  the  army  sta- 
tioned at  those  places,  whenever  they  should  seek  to 
enter  the  city  for  the  purpose  of  provoking  hostilities. 
Six  brigantines  accordingly  departed  to  the  two  camps ; 
a  necessary  measure,  that  proved  of  great  advantage,  for 
every  day  and  night  they  made  incursions  upon  the 
enemy,  and  took  many  canoes  and  prisoners. 


36 


278  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

When  these  measures  had  been  taken,  and  the  people 
already  mentioned  had  come  to  our  aid,  desiring  to  be  at 
peace  with  us,  I  addressed  them  all,  and  informed  them 
that  I  had  determined  to  enter  and  attack  the  city  in  two 
days  from  that  time,  when  I  desired  them  to  come 
prepared  for  the  war,  and  by  this  means  I  should  know 
whether  they  were  true  allies.  They  promised  to  com- 
ply with  my  wishes.  The  next  day  I  caused  our  force 
to  be  got  ready  and  fully  equipped,  and  wrote  to  the  offi- 
cers in  the  other  camps  and  the  brigantines  what  I  had 
resolved  upon,  and  what  it  was  incumbent  on  them  to 
do. 

The  next  morning,  after  having  heard  mass,  and  given 
the  captains  their  orders,  I  departed  from  our  quarters 
with  fifteen  or  twenty  horse  and  three  hundred  Spanish 
infantry,  accompanied  by  all  our  allies,  an  infinite  host ; 
and  taking  my  course  along  the  causeway  towards  the 
city,  when  we  had  advanced  three  bow-shots  beyond  the 
camp  we  fell  in  with  the  enemy,  who  were  expecting  us 
with  horrid  cries.  As  no  hostilities  had  taken  place  for 
three  days  before,  they  had  in  the  mean  time  removed 
from  the  water  whatever  we  had  thrown  in  to  fill  up  the 
breaches  in  the  road,  and  rendered  every  thing  stronger 
and  more  difficult  to  take  than  before.  The  brigantines 
came  up  on  both  sides  of  the  causeway,  and  as  they 
were  able  to  approach  quite  near  the  enemy,  they  caused 
great  destruction  amongst  them  by  their  guns,  musketry, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  279 

and  crossbows.  Seeing  this,  the  men  leaped  out  upon 
the  ground  and  took  possession  of  an  entrenchment  and 
bridge ;  and  we  began  to  pass  over  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  who  immediately  fortified  themselves  behind 
other  bridges  and  entrenchments  which  they  had  thrown 
up ;  these  we  succeeded  in  carrying,  although  with 
greater  exertion  and  hazard  than  before,  and  we  drove 
them  from  the  whole  street  and  the  square  containing  the 
principal  houses  of  the  city.  Here  I  ordered  the  Spa- 
nish troops  to  halt,  while  I  went  with  our  allies  to  close 
up  with  stone  and  sun-dried  bricks  the  places  where  the 
water  flowed  across  our  route  ;  and  although  more  than 
ten  thousand  Indians  assisted  in  this  work,  it  was  not 
finished  until  the  hour  of  vespers.  During  all  this  time 
the  Spanish  troops  and  our  allies  were  engaged  in  fighting 
and  skirmishing  with  the  inhabitants,  and  laying  snares 
for  them,  by  means  of  which  many  perished.  Taking 
the  cavalry  I  scoured  the  streets  of  the  city  for  a  short 
time,  driving  the  inhabitants  with  our  lances  from  those 
parts  where  there  was  no  water,  and  keeping  them  back 
so  that  they  no  longer  dared  to  come  upon  dry  land. 

Considering  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  city  were 
rebels,  and  that  they  discovered  so  strong  a  determina- 
tion to  defend  themselves  or  perish,  I  inferred  two  things  : 
first,  that  we  should  recover  little  or  none  of  the  wealth 
of  which  they  had  deprived  us ;  and  second,  that  they  had 
given  us  occasion  and  compelled  us  utterly  to  exterminate 
them.  On  this  last  consideration  I  dwelt  with  most 
feeling,  and  it  weighed  heavily  upon  my  mind,  leading 
me  to  think  in  what  way  I  could  strike  them  with  dread 
so  that  they  should  come  to  a  knowledge  of  their  error, 
and  of  the  calamities  we  should  bring  upon  them ;  with 
this  view  I  continued  to  burn  and  demolish  the  towers  of 


280  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

their  idols  and  their  houses.  That  they  might  become 
more  sensible  of  their  situation,  I  this  day  set  fire  to 
those  noble  edifices  in  the  great  square,  where  on  the 
former  occasion  when  they  expelled  us  from  the  city 
the  Spanish  troops  and  myself  were  quartered.  These 
buildings  were  so  extensive  that  a  prince  with  more  than 
six  hundred  persons  in  his  family  and  domestic  retinue 
would  have  found  ample  space  for  their  accommodation. 
There  were  others  adjacent  to  these,  which  although 
somewhat  smaller  were  more  gay  and  elegant,  and  served 
Muteczuma  for  aviaries,  in  which  he  had  every  variety 
of  birds  known  in  that  country.  Although  it  grieved 
me  much,  yet  as  it  grieved  the  enemy  more,  I  determined 
to  burn  these  palaces ;  whereupon  they  manifested  great 
sorrow,  as  well  as  their  allies  from  the  cities  on  the  lake, 
because  none  of  them  had  supposed  we  should  be  able 
to  penetrate  so  far  into  the  city.  This  struck  them  with 
terrible  dismay. 

Having  set  fire  to  these  buildings,  as  it  was  now  eve- 
ning, I  assembled  our  force  to  return  to  the  camp ;  and 
when  the  inhabitants  saw  that  we  were  retreating,  they 
pursued  us  in  great  numbers,  and  coming  up  in  a  furious 
manner,  fell  upon  our  rearguard.  But  the  streets  being 
throughout  favorable  for  the  movements  of  horses,  the 
cavalry  turned  about  to  charge  upon  them,  and  pierced 
many  of  them  with  their  lances  ;  yet  they  did  not  cease 
rushing  upon  our  rear  uttering  loud  cries.  This  day 
they  showed  some  feeling  and  not  a  little  dismay,  espe- 
cially when  they  saw  the  people  of  Tezcuco,  Chalco, 
Suchimilco,  and  the  Otumies  entering  the  city,  burning 
and  destroying  it  and  fighting  against  them ;  all  of  them 
calling  out  by  name  the  province  to  which  they  belonged  ; 
and  in  another  quarter  the  Tlascallans,  who,  as  well  as 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  281 

the  others,  displayed  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  the 
bodies  of  their  countrymen  cut  into  pieces,  exclaiming 
at  the  same  time  that  they  would  have  them  for  supper 
that  night  and  for  breakfast  the  next  day,  as  was  in  fact 
the  case.  Thus  we  returned  to  our  camp  to  rest,  for 
that  day  we  had  toiled  much.  The  seven  brigantines 
that  I  had  retained  entered  the  water-streets  of  the  city 
on  the  same  day  and  burned  a  considerable  part  of  it. 
The  captains  of  the  other  divisions  of  the  army  and 
the  six  brigantines  also  fought  gallantly  on  that  day.  I 
might  well  enlarge  upon  their  exploits,  but  to  avoid 
prolixity  I  omit  the  account,  only  adding  that  they  re- 
turned victoriously  to  their  camps  without  suffering  any 
loss. 

On  the  following  day,  at  an  early  hour  of  the  morning, 
after  hearing  mass,  I  returned  to  the  city  in  the  same 
order  with  my  whole  force,  so  that  the  enemy  might  not 
have  time  to  open  the  breaches  in  the  road,  and  throw  up 
entrenchments ;  but  although  we  were  early  on  the  ground, 
of  the  three  water-streets  that  crossed  the  road  leading 
from  the  camp  to  the  large  houses  on  the  square,  two 
were  in  the  same  condition  as  on  the  previous  days,  and 
extremely  difficult  to  be  taken ;  the  combat  lasted  from 
eight  o'clock  till  one  in  the  afternoon,  during  which  time 
all  the  arrows  and  balls  carried  by  the  archers  and  mus- 
keteers were  exhausted.  Your  Majesty  may  well  believe 
that  the  danger  was  very  great  to  which  we  were  ex- 
posed every  time  we  gained  these  bridges, since  in  order  to 
accomplish  it  the  Spanish  soldiers  were  obliged  to  throw 
themselves  into  the  water  and  swim,  to  the  opposite  side ; 
this  could  not  be  done,  nor  attempted  by  all,  as  the 
enemy  stood  ready  to  oppose  their  landing  by  slashing 
them  with  knives  or  thrusting  lances  at  them.     But  as 


282  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

they  no  longer  had  terraces  from  which  to  annoy  us  on 
the  opposite  quarter,  and  we  kept  up  a  shower  of  arrows 
from  our  side,  the  distance  apart  being  but  the  cast  of  a 
horse-shoe,  the  Spaniards  early  in  the  day  took  fresh  cour- 
age, and  determined  to  pass,  especially  when  they  saw 
that  this  was  my  determination  likewise,  and  that,  sink  or 
swim,  the  thing  must  be  effected.  It  will,  perhaps,  ap- 
pear to  your  Majesty  that  as  we  encountered  so  much 
peril  in  gaining  these  bridges  and  entrenchments,  we 
were  guilty  of  neglect  in  not  retaining  them  after  we  had 
once  succeeded  in  taking  them,  and  thus  avoiding  the 
daily  return  anew  to  so  much  danger  and  toil,  which  were 
unquestionably  great,  as  they  must  appear  to  those  not 
present.  But  your  Majesty  should  know  that  this  was 
impossible,  for  in  order  to  accomplish  it  two  things  were 
necessary — either  that  we  should  remove  our  camp  to 
the  great  square  containing  the  temples  of  the  idols,  or 
that  our  people  should  guard  the  bridges  by  night — both 
of  which  would  be  attended  with  great  danger,  and  found 
to  be  impracticable.  Should  we  encamp  in  the  city, 
every  night  and  every  hour  the  enemy  would  surprise  us 
with  sudden  attacks,  and  being  themselves  numerous, 
and  we  but  few,  the  labor  would  be  insupportable  to  re- 
sist them  on  all  sides.  Then  as  to  guarding  the  bridges 
by  night,  the  Spaniards  are  so  fatigued  by  fighting  through 
the  day,  that  none  of  them  are  fit  to  perform  guard-duty 
at  night ;  we  were  therefore  compelled  to  retake  them 
every  day  that  we  entered  the  city. 

On  this  day,  as  there  was  much  delay  in  gaining  the 
bridges,  and  in  returning  to  fill  up  the  water,  there  was 
no  opportunity  to  do  more  than  to  take  two  other  bridges 
on  the  other  principal  street  leading  to  the  city  of  Tacu- 
ba,  which  we   filled  up,  and  afterwards   burned   many 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  283 

good  houses  on  that  street.     By  this  time  it  was  evening, 
and  the  hour  to  return  to  camp,  which  was  attended  with 
little  less  danger  than  taking  the  bridges  ;  for  as  soon  as 
they  saw  us  retire,  the  inhabitants  recovered  themselves 
to  such  a  degree  that  it  seemed  as  if  they  had  been  vic- 
torious, and  that  we  were  flying  before  them ;  it  was 
likewise  necessary  for  our  safe  return,  that  the  space  oc- 
cupied by  the  bridges  should  be  well  filled  up  so  as  to  be 
even  with  the  street,  that  the  cavalry  might  be  able  to 
move  freely  from  one  side  to  the  other.     Sometimes  when 
thus  returning  to  camp,  and  the  enemy  pursued  us  so 
ravenously,  we  would  pretend  to  fly,  and  then  turn  about 
suddenly  upon  them,  and  take  twelve  or  thirteen  of  the 
boldest  of  them  prisoners.     By  these  means,  and  the 
ambuscades  we  laid  for  them,  into  which  they  were  con- 
stantly falling,  they  always  suffered  ;  and  their  conduct 
was  certainly  worthy  of  admiration,  for  however  great 
the  evils  and  losses  to  which  they  were  exposed  in  ha- 
rassing our  march,  they  did   not  relax  their  pursuit  till 
they  saw  us  out  of  the  city.     Thus  we  returned  to  our 
camp,  when  the  captains  of  the  other  posts  informed  me 
that  they  had  succeeded  well  the  same  day,  and  had  de- 
stroyed many  of  the  enemy  by  land  and   water ;    and 
Pedro  de  Alvarado,  in  particular,  who  was  stationed  at 
Tacuba,  wrote  me  that  he  had  taken  two  or  three  bridges; 
but  as  he  was  on  the  causeway  that  leads  from  the  mar- 
ket-place of  Mexico  to  Tacuba,  and  the  three  brigantines 
I  had  given  him  could  come  up  on  one  side  so  as  to  touch 
the  causeway,  he  was  not  exposed  to  so  much  danger  as 
on  the  previous  days.     In  that  quarter  there  were  more 
bridges  and  a  greater  number  of  breaches  in  the  cause- 
way, but  fewer  terraces,  than  in  the  others. 

During  all  this  time  the  inhabitants  of  Iztapalapa,  Oi- 


284  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

chilobuzco,  Mexicacingo,  Culuacan,  Mizquique  and  Cui- 
taguaca,  which,  as  I  have  mentioned,  are  situated  on 
the  fresh  lake,  had  never  come  to  desire  peace  with  us, 
nor  had  we  suffered  any  annoyance  from  them.  But 
the  people  of  Chalco  were  loyal  vassals  of  your  Majesty, 
and  seeing  that  we  were  fully  occupied  with  our  opera- 
tions against  the  great  city,  they  united  with  others  who 
dwelt  around  the  lakes,  and  did  all  the  mischief  in  their 
power  to  the  above  mentioned  towns  on  the  water. 
These  perceiving  that  every  day  we  were  victorious 
over  the  inhabitants  of  Temixtitan,  and  taking  into  con- 
sideration what  they  suffered  and  would  suffer  from  our 
allies,  resolved  to  come  in  ;  they  arrived  at  our  camp, 
and  begged  me  to  pardon  the  past,  and  order  the  Chal- 
conians  and  their  other  neighbors  not  to  injure  them  any 
more.  I  answered  them  that  I  was  pleased  with  their 
coming,  and  had  no  unfriendly  feelings  towards  any  but 
the  inhabitants  of  the  city ;  but  in  order  to  prove  the 
sincerity  of  their  professions,  I  requested  them,  as  it  was 
my  determination  not  to  remove  my  camp  till  by  peace 
or  war  I  had  obtained  possession  of  the  city,  and  as  they 
had  many  canoes  that  might  afford  me  aid,  that  they 
would  get  ready  as  many  as  they  could,  with  all  their 
most  warlike  people,  in  order  to  come  to  our  assistance 
hereafter.  I  also  desired,  as  the  Spaniards  had  only  a 
few,  mean  huts,  and  it  was  now  the  season  for  heavy 
rains,  that  they  would  erect  as  many  barracks  as  possi- 
ble at  the  camp,  and  bring  in  their  canoes  bricks  and 
timber  from  the  houses  of  the  city  that  were  nearest  to 
us.  They  replied  that  their  canoes  and  warriors  would 
be  in  readiness  every  day ;  and  in  building  the  barracks, 
they  worked  with  great  diligence,  and  on  both  sides  of 
the  two  towers  of  the  causeway  where  I  was  encamped, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  285 

they  erected  so  many,  that  it  was  a  distance  of  more 
than  three  or  four  bowshots  from  the  first  to  the  last. 
Your  Majesty  will  understand  that  the  causeway  leading 
over  the  deepest  part  of  the  lake  was  so  wide,  that  these 
huts  were  built  on  either  side  of  it,  leaving  a  street  in 
the  middle  along  which  we  could  come  and  go,  on  foot 
or  horseback,  at  pleasure  ;  and  there  were  constantly  in 
the  camp,  including  Spaniards  and  the  Indians  who 
waited  on  them,  more  than  two  thousand  persons.  All 
the  rest  of  our  division  consisting  of  allies,  were  quar- 
tered at  Cuyoacan,  a  league  and  a  half  from  the  camp. 
The  people  of  those  towns  (above  mentioned)  also  sup- 
plied us  with  some  articles  of  food,  (of  which  we  had 
need  enough,)  especially  fish  and  cherries  ;  the  latter 
being  so  abundant  that  they  are  sufficient  during  the  five 
or  six  months  that  they  last  for  double  the  population  of 
the  country.* 

As  we  had  now  entered  the  city  two  or  three  days  in 
succession  from  our  camp,  besides  three  or  four  former 
visits,  and  had  always  come  off  victorious,  having  with 
our  guns,  crossbows,  and  musketry  destroyed  a  host  of 
people,  we  expected  every  hour  that  they  would  be  in- 
duced to  send  us  proposals  of  peace,  which  we  desired 
as  a  means  of  safety  ;  but  no  progress  was  made  by  us 
in  drawing  them  to  this  conclusion.  In  order  to  make 
the  necessity  of  peace  greater  to  them,  and  to  see  if  I 
could  constrain  them  to  it,  I  resolved  to  enter  the  city 
every  day  and  attack  the  inhabitants  with  the  force  I 

*  According  to  Nuttall  there  are  more  native  species  of  the  plum  and  cherry 
in  North  America  than  any  other  part  of  the  world.  No  modern  botanist  seems 
to  have  visited  the  central  portions  of  Mexico  ;  some  parts  of  California  were 
explored  by  the  late  Mr.  Douglas,  of  London,  and  by  Mr.  Nuttall  from  the  Uni- 
ted States,  who  have  greatly  enriched  the  North  American  Flora  by  their  inte- 
resting contributions  from  that  quarter. 

37 


286  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

carried,  in  three  or  four  different  places  ;  and  I  sum- 
moned to  my  aid  all  the  people  of  the  cities  on  the  water 
in  their  canoes  ;  on  the  morning  of  that  day  I  had  in  my 
camp  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  men  of  our  allies. 
I  ordered  the  four  brigantines  with  half  of  the  canoes, 
about  fifteen  hundred  in  number,  to  go  to  one  quarter  ; 
and  the  three  others  with  the  same  number  of  canoes  to 
go  to  another  quarter  ;  and  that  they  should  direct  their 
course  so  as  to  surround  the  city,  set  fire  to  it,  and  do 
all  the  mischief  in  their  power.  I  made  my  entry  by  the 
principal  street,  which  I  found  free  from  impediments 
as  far  as  the  great  houses  on  the  square  ;  none  of  the 
bridges  were  raised,  and  I  passed  into  the  street  that 
leads  to  Tacuba,  on  which  were  six  or  seven  bridges. 
From  thence  I  caused  a  captain  to  enter  by  another 
street  with  sixty  or  seventy  men,  followed  by  six  horse- 
men for  security ;  and  with  them  went  more  than  ten  or 
twelve  thousand  Indians  of  our  allies.  I  ordered  ano- 
ther captain  to  do  the  same  on  another  street ;  and  I 
with  the  people  that  were  left  followed  on  the  street  of 
Tacuba,  and  took  three  bridges,  which  were  filled  up. 
The  other  bridges  I  left  for  another  time,  because  it  was 
evening,  and  they  could  be  better  taken  on  a  future  oc- 
casion. I  was  very  desirous  of  securing  this  noble 
street,  in  order  that  the  force  in  the  camp  of  Pedro  de 
Alvarado  might  communicate  with  ours,  and  pass  from 
one  to  the  other ;  and  also  that  the  brigantines  should 
have  a  similar  communication.  On  that  day  I  was  quite 
victorious  both  by  land  and  water,  and  obtained  consi- 
derable spoil  from  the  city.  The  alguazil  mayor  and 
Pedro  de  Alvarado  were  also  successful  with  their  divi- 
sions. 

The  following  day  I  returned  to  the  city  in  the  same 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  287 

order  as  on  the  former  days,  and  gave  thanks  to  God  for 
so  great  a  victory,  since  in  the  parts  where  we  entered 
no  resistance  appeared  to  be  made  to  us  ;  and  the  enemy 
retreated  with  such  rapidity,  that  we  seemed  to  have 
gained  three  fourths  of  the  city  ;  and  they  also  passed 
in  great  haste  in  the  direction  of  the  camp  of  Pedro  de 
Alvarado.  Both  this  day  and  the  day  before  I  was 
quite  certain  that  they  would  sue  for  peace,  for  which  I 
was  always  prepared,  whether  victorious  or  not.  But 
notwithstanding,  we  never  found  any  sign  of  peace  on 
their  part ;  and  that  day  we  returned  with  great  plea- 
sure to  our  camp,  although  it  did  not  cease  to  oppress 
my  mind  to  see  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  so  determined 
on  their  fate. 

During  the  past  days  Pedro  de  Alvarado  had  taken 
several  bridges,  and  in  order  to  retain  them  he  placed 
sentries  of  foot  soldiers  in  the  day  time,  and  horsemen  at 
night  to  guard  them ;  the  rest  of  his  force  repaired  to 
his  camp,  which  was  three-quarters  of  a  league  dis- 
tant. As  this  labor  was  insupportable,  he  resolved  to 
remove  his  camp  to  the  head  of  the  causeway  leading  to 
the  market-place  of  Temixtitan,  which  is  a  square  some- 
what larger  than  that  of  Salamanca,  and  entirely  sur- 
rounded by  covered  walks ;  and  in  order  to  reach  it,  it 
was  only  necessary  to  gain  two  or  three  other  bridges, 
which,  however,  were  very  wide  and  difficult  to  be  taken, 
and  kept  him  employed  several  days,  during  which  he 
fought  incessantly,  though  with  success.  On  the  day 
above  mentioned,  when  he  saw  indications  of  weakness 
on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  and  that  in  the  quarter  where  I 
was  I  had  been  engaged  in  continued  and  vigorous  as- 
saults, he  was  so  much  flushed  with  the  heat  of  victory 
in  gaining  so  many  bridges  and  entrenchments,  that  he 


288  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

determined  to  pass  over  and  take  a  bridge  where  more 
than  sixty  paces  of  the  causeway  had  been  broken  up 
and  filled  with  water  to  the  depth  of  nine  or  ten  feet.  He 
carried  his  purpose  into  effect  the  same  day,  and  aided 
by  the  brigantines,  crossed  the  water  and  gained  the 
bridge,  pursuing  the  enemy,  who  took  to  flight.  Pedro 
de  Alvarado  then  hastened  to  close  up  the  breach  so  that 
the  cavalry  could  pass  ;  and  also  because  I  had  cautioned 
him  every  day,  both  in  writing  and  verbally,  not  to  gain 
an  inch  of  ground  without  rendering  it  perfectly  safe  for 
the  horse  to  come  and  go,  that  they  might  join  in  the  at- 
tacks. As  soon  as  the  inhabitants  saw  that  only  forty  or 
fifty  Spaniards  and  a  few  of  our  allies  had  crossed  to  that 
side,  and  that  the  horse  were  unable  to  get  over,  they 
turned  upon  them  so  suddenly  that  our  people  retreated 
and  threw  themselves  into  the  water ;  and  three  or  four 
Spaniards  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  enemy,  who  im- 
mediately carried  them  to  be  sacrificed  [in  the  temple]  ; 
several  of  our  allies  were  also  slain.  At  last,  Pedro  de 
Alvarado  made  good  his  retreat  to  his  camp. 

When  on  that  day  I  returned  to  my  quarters  and  heard 
what  had  happened,  nothing  in  the  world  could  have 
grieved  me  more  ;  because  it  was  the  means  of  giving 
fresh  courage  to  the  enemy,  and  leading  them  to  believe 
that  we  should  not  dare  to  make  another  attempt  to 
carry  the  city.  The  reason  that  Pedro  Alvarado  wished 
to  take  that  ill-advised  step  was,  as  I  have  said,  that  he 
saw  a  large  part  of  the  Indian  force  already  in  his  power, 
and  that  the  rest  gave  indications  of  weakness  ;  but  it 
was  chiefly  on  account  of  the  importunities  of  the  people 
in  his  division,  who  urged  him  to  capture  the  market- 
place, as  if  that  was  taken  the  whole  city  would  be 
carried,  and  all  the  strength  and  expectations  that  the 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  289 

Indians  possessed  in  it.  Moreover,  Alvarado's  men  ob- 
served that  I  was  continually  pursuing  my  attacks  on 
the  city,  and  would  be  likely  to  take  the  market-place 
before  them  ;  and  as  the}r  were  nearer  to  it  than  we, 
they  considered  it  a  point  of  honor  to  be  the  first  to  reach 
it.  For  this  reason  Pedro  de  Alvarado  was  greatly  im- 
portuned, and  the  same  thing  occurred  to  me  in  my 
camp  ;  for  all  the  Spaniards  earnestly  solicited  me  to 
enter  through  one  of  three  streets  that  led  to  the  market- 
place, as  we  should  meet  with  no  resistance,  and  that 
being  gained,  we  should  have  less  trouble  hereafter.  I 
made  every  pretence  in  my  power  for  not  yielding  to 
their  wishes,  but  concealed  the  true  cause ;  which  was 
on  account  of  the  obstacles  and  perils  that  presented 
themselves  to  my  mind  ;  since  on  entering  the  market- 
place, there  would  be  in  our  way  innumerable  terraces, 
bridges,  and  breaches  in  the  causeways,  so  that  every 
house  that  we  should  have  to  pass  would  be  like  an  island 
in  the  midst  of  the  water. 

As  on  that  evening  when  I  returned  to  camp  I  was 
informed  of  the  defeat  of  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  I  deter- 
mined to  go  the  next  morning  to  his  quarters  and  reprove 
him  for  what  had  occurred,  and  at  the  same  time  to  see 
what  he  had  gained,  and  where  he  had  removed  his 
camp,  instructing  him  as  to  the  measures  necessary  for 
his  safety  and  the  annoyance  of  the  enemy.  But  on 
arriving  at  his  camp,  I  was  astonished  to  see  how  far  he 
had  advanced  into  the  city,  and  the  dangerous  passes 
and  bridges  he  had  gained,  and  I  no  longer  thought  him 
deserving  of  as  much  censure  as  I  had  supposed ;  so 
that  having  conversed  with  him  respecting  what  remained 
to  be  done,  I  returned  the  same  day  to  my  own  quarters. 

After  this  I  effected  several  entries  into  the  city  at  the 


290  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

usual  points  ;  and  while  the  brigantines  and  canoes  made 
their  attacks  in  two  different  quarters,  I  proceeded 
through  the  city  to  four  others.  We  were  always  suc- 
cessful, and  great  numbers  of  the  enemy  were  slain ; 
and  besides,  every  day  multitudes  of  people  declared  in 
our  favor.  I  still  delayed  advancing  my  position  more 
within  the  city — first,  that  the  enemy  might  have  an  op- 
portunity to  recede  from  their  obstinate  and  implacable 
policy  ;  and  secondly,  because  our  entrance  would  be 
attended  with  great  peril,  as  they  were  firmly  united, 
full  of  courage,  and  resolved  on  death.  But  when  the 
Spaniards  saw  so  long  a  delay  in  this  matter,  more  than 
twenty  days  having  elapsed  since  they  had  been  con- 
tinually engaged  in  combating  the  enemy,  they  impor- 
tuned me  in  the  most  earnest  manner,  as  I  have  already 
stated,  to  enter  the  city  and  seize  upon  the  market-place  ; 
which  being  done,  the  enemy  would  have  less  room  to 
act  on  the  defensive,  and  if  they  did  not  surrender,  they 
would  perish  with  hunger  and  thirst,  having  nothing  to 
drink  but  the  salt  water  of  the  lake.  When  I  made  some 
excuse  for  not  complying  with  their  wishes,  your  Ma- 
jesty's Treasurer  assured  me  that  the  whole  camp  de- 
clared it  ought  to  be  done.  I  answered  him  and  other 
respectable  persons  who  were  there,  that  their  design 
and  request  were  worthy  of  approbation,  and  no  one 
desired  to  effect  the  object  more  than  myself;  but  that  I 
declined  attempting  it  for  a  reason  which  their  importu- 
nity compelled  me  to  avow,  namely,  that  although  he  and 
the  others  would  act  worthily  when  surrounded  by  dan- 
ger, there  were  some  who  would  not  do  so.  At  length, 
however,  they  compelled  me  to  yield  my  consent  to  do 
whatever  I  could  in  this  matter,  after  having  concerted 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  291 

the  plan  of  operations  with  the  other  divisions  of  the 
army. 

The  next  day  I  assembled  several  of  the  principal 
men  in  odr  camp,  when  we  resolved  to  inform  the  algua- 
zil  mayor  and  Pedro  de  Alvarado  of  our  intention  to 
enter  the  city  on  the  following  day,  and  if  possible,  to 
reach  the  market-place.  I  instructed  them  what  it  would 
be  necessary  for  them  to  do  on  the  side  of  Tacuba ;  and 
besides  writing  this,  that  they  might  be  still  better  in- 
formed, I  sent  two  of  my  servants  to  acquaint  them  with 
the  whole  matter.  The  orders  were,  that  the  alguazil 
mayor  should  join  the  camp  of  Pedro  de  Alvarado  with 
a  force  consisting  of  ten  horse,  one  hundred  Spanish 
infantry,  and  fifteen  archers  and  musketeers  ;  that  he 
should  leave  behind  in  his  camp  ten  other  horse,  ar- 
ranging with  them,  that  when  the  battle  commenced  the 
next  day,  they  should  place  themselves  in  ambush  behind 
some  houses ;  and  that  he  should  carry  off  all  his  bag- 
gage as  if  the  camp  was  to  be  broken  up,  so  that  when 
the  enemy  from  the  city  pursued  them,  the  ambuscade 
might  fall  upon  their  rear.  Likewise,  that  the  alguazil 
mayor  with  his  three  brigantines,  and  Pedro  de  Alvarado 
with  the  three  others,  should  gain  possession  of  the  great 
breach  in  the  road  where  the  latter  was  defeated,  and 
hasten  to  fill  it  up ;  that  they  should  then  advance,  but 
by  no  means  leave  the  spot  or  advance  a  single  step  be- 
fore the  breach  was  filled,  and  the  road  placed  in  good 
order ;  and,  finally,  if  they  could  reach  the  market-place 
without  much  risk  or  danger,  they  should  make  every 
exertion  to  do  so,  and  I  would  do  the  same.  I  added, 
that  although  I  sent  them  these  instructions,  they  must 
see  I  did  not  oblige  them  to  take  a  single  step  that  would 
be  likely  to  lead  to  any  repulse  or  disaster ;  and  this  I 


292  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

added  because  I  knew  from  the  character  of  the  men 
that  they  would  face  any  difficulty  in  obedience  to  my 
orders,  though  they  knew  it  would  cost  them  their  lives. 
Having  despatched  these  two  servants  of  mine  with  this 
message,  they  proceeded  to  the  camp  and  found  there 
the  alguazil  mayor  and  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  to  whom 
they  communicated  the  whole  plan  as  concerted  in  our 
own  camp.  As  they  would  have  to  act  against  one 
quarter  only  of  the  city,  while  I  had  many  different 
points  to  assail,  I  desired  them  to  send  me  seventy  or 
eighty  infantry,  to  add  to  the  force  with  which  I  should 
enter  the  city  on  the  following  day  ;  these  troops  accor- 
dingly came  in  company  with  my  two  servants  the  same 
night,  and  lodged  in  our  camp. 

The  next  day  after  mass,*  in  pursuance  of  the  arrange- 
ments already  mentioned,  the  seven  brigantines  with  more 
than  three  thousand  canoes  of  our  allies  left  our  encamp- 
ment ;  and  I  with  twenty-five  horse  and  all  the  other 
force  I  had,  including  the  seventy  men  from  the  division 
at  Tacuba,  took  up  the  line  of  march  and  entered  the 
city,  where  I  distributed  the  troops  in  the  following  man- 
ner :  there  were  three  streets  leading  from  where  we 
entered  to  the  market-place,  called  by  the  Indians  Tian- 
guizco,  and  the  whole  square  on  which  it  is  situated  they 
call  Tlaltelulco;  one  of  these  streets  was  the  principal 
avenue  to  the  market-place,  which  I  ordered  your  Ma- 
jesty's treasurer  and  auditor  to  take,  with  seventy  men 
and  more  than  fifteen  or  twenty  thousand  of  our  allies  ; 
the  rearguard  consisting  of  seven  or  eight  horse.     I  also 


*  Archbishop  Lorenzana,  in  his  note  on  this  passage,  greatly  extols  the  pious 
fervor  of  Cortes,  who,  he  says,  "  whether  in  the  field  or  on  the  causeway,  in  the 
midst  of  the  enemy  or  toiling  by  night  or  day,"  never  omitted  the  celebration 
of  the  mass. 


CONQUEST   OF    MEXICO.  293 

directed  that  whenever  a  bridge  or  entrenchment  was 
taken,  that  it  should  be  immediately  filled  up  ;  and  for 
this  purpose  they  had  twelve  men  with  pickaxes,  together 
with  many  more  of  our  allies  who  were  very  useful  in 
this  kind  of  work.  The  two  other  streets  also  lead  from 
that  of  Tacuba  to  the  market-place,  and  are  narrower  and 
full  of  causeways,  bridges  and  water-streets,  (or  canals.) 
I  ordered  two  captains*  to  take  the  widest  of  these,  with 
eighty  men  and  more  than  ten  thousand  of  our  Indian 
allies ;  and  at  the  head  of  the  street  of  Tacuba  I  placed 
two  heavy  cannon  with  eight  horse  to  guard  them.  With 
eight  other  horse  and  about  one  hundred  foot,  including 
twenty-five  or  more  bowmen  and  musketeers,  and  an  in- 
numerable host  of  our  allies,  I  took  up  the  line  of  march 
alongthe  other  narrow  street,  intending  to  penetrate  as  far 
as  possible.  At  its  entrance  I  caused  the  cavalry  to  halt, 
and  ordered  them  by  no  means  to  pass  from  there,  nor  to 
come  in  my  rear,  unless  I  first  sent  them  orders  to  that 
effect ;  and  I  then  alighted  from  my  horse,  and  we  came 
to  an  entrenchment  that  had  been  raised  in  front  of  a 
bridge,  which  we  carried  by  means  of  a  small  field- piece, 
and  the  archers  and  musketeers,  and  then  proceeded 
along  the  causeway,  which  was  broken  in  two  or  three 
places,  where  we  encountered  the  enemy.  So  great  was 
the  number  of  our  allies  who  ascended  the  terraces  and 
other  places,  that  it  did  not  appear  possible  any  thing 
could  stop  us.  When  we  had  gained  the  two  bridges,  the 
entrenchments  and  causeway,  our  allies  followed  along 
the  street  without  taking  any  spoil ;  and  1  remained  be- 
hind with  about  twenty  Spanish  soldiers  on  a  small  island, 
for  I  saw  that  some  of  our  Indians  were  getting  into  trou- 

*  These  were  Andres  de  Tapia  and  George  Alvarado. 

3S 


294  LETTERS   OF   CORTES. 

ble  with  the  enemy ;  and  in  some  instances  they  retreat- 
ed until  they  cast  themselves  into  the  water,  and  with 
our  aid  were  enabled  to  return  to  the  attack.  Besides 
this,  we  were  on  the  watch  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
sallying  forth  out  of  the  cross-streets  in  the  rear  of  the 
Spaniards  who  had  advanced  on  the  main  street,  and  at 
this  time  sent  us  word  that  they  had  made  much  progress, 
and  were  not  far  from  the  great  square  of  the  market- 
place ;  adding,  that  they  wished  to  push  forward,  for  they 
already  heard  the  noise  of  the  combat  in  which  the  algua- 
zil  mayor  and  Pedro  de  Alvarado  were  engaged  on  their 
side  of  the  city.  I  answered  them,  that  they  must  by  no 
means  go  forward  without  leaving  the  bridges  well  filled 
up,  so  that  if  it  became  necessary  to  beat  a  retreat,  the 
water  might  present  no  obstacle  or  impediment,  for  in 
this  consisted  all  the  danger.  They  sent  to  me  a  mes- 
sage in  reply,  the  amount  of  which  was  that  the  whole 
they  had  gained  was  left  in  good  condition,  and  that  I 
might  go  and  see  if  it  was  not  so.  But  suspecting  that 
they  had  disregarded  the  orders,  and  left  the  bridges  im- 
perfectly filled  up,  I  went  to  the  place  and  found  they 
had  passed  a  breach  in  the  road  ten  or  twelve  paces 
wide ;  and  the  water  that  flowed  through  it  was  ten  or 
twelve  feet  deep.  At  the  time  the  troops  had  passed  this 
ditch,  thus  formed,  they  had  thrown  into  it  wood  and 
reed-canes,  and  as  they  had  crossed  a  few  at  a  time  and 
with  great  circumspection,  the  wood  and  canes  had  not 
sunk  beneath  their  weight ;  and  they  were  so  intoxicated 
with  the  pleasure  of  victory  that  they  imagined  it  to  be 
sufficiently  firm.  At  the  moment  I  reached  this  bridge 
of  troubles,  I  discovered  some  Spaniards  and  many  of 
our  allies  flying  back  in  great  haste,  and  the  enemy  like 
dogs  in  pursuit  of  them  ;  and  when  I  saw  such  a  route, 


CONQUEST   OF    MEXICO.  295 

I  began  to  cry  out,  "  Hold,  hold!"  and  on  approaching 
the  water,  I  beheld  it  full  of  Spaniards  and  Indians,  in  so 
dense  a  mass  that  it  seemed  as  if  there  was  not  room  for 
a  straw  to  float.  The  enemy  charged  on  the  fugitives  so 
hotly,  that  in  the  melee  they  threw  themselves  into  the 
water  after  them;  and  soon  the  enemy's  canoes  came  up 
by  means  of  the  canal,  and  took  the  Spaniards  alive. 

As  this  affair  was  so  sudden,  and  I  saw  them  killing 
our  men,  I  resolved  to  remain  there,  and  perish  in  the 
fight.  The  way  in  which  I  and  those  who  were  with 
me  could  do  the  most  good,  was  to  give  our  hands  to 
some  unfortunate  Spaniards  who  were  drowning,  and 
draw  them  out  of  the  water ;  some  came  out  wounded, 
others  half-drowned,  and  others  without  arms,  whom  I 
sent  forward.  Already  such  multitudes  of  the  enemy 
pressed  upon  us,  that  they  had  completely  surrounded 
me  and  the  twelve  or  fifteen  men  who  were  with  me  ; 
and  being  deeply  interested  in  endeavoring  to  save  those 
that  were  sinking,  I  did  not  observe  nor  regard  the 
danger  to  which  I  was  exposed.  Several  Indians  of  the 
enemy  had  already  advanced  to  seize  me,  and  would 
have  borne  me  off,  had  it  not  been  for  a  captain  of  fifty 
men  whom  I  always  had  with  me,  and  also  a  youth  of 
his  company,  to  whom  next  to  God  I  owed  my  life  ;  and 
in  saving  mine  like  a  valiant  man,  he  lost  his  own.*  In 
the  mean  time  the  Spaniards  who  had  fled  before  the 
enemy,  pursued  their  course  along  the  causeway,  and  as 
it  was  small  and  narrow,  and  on  the  same  level  as  the 
water,  which  had  been  effected  by  those  dogs  on  purpose 


*  Antonio  de  Quiiiones  was  the  captain,  and  Francisco  de  Olea,  the  youth, 
according  to  Gomara ;  who  says  that  the  latter  cut  off  at  one  blow  the  arms  ef 
the  men  that  had  seized  Cortes,  and  was  himself  immediately  slain  by  the  ene- 
my.   Cortes  was  then  rescued  by  Quinones. — Cron.  Nuev.  Esp.  Cap.  138. 


296  LETTERS   OF    CORTES. 

to  annoy  us  ;  and  as  the  road  was  crowded  also  with 
our  allies  who  had  been  routed,  much  delay  was  there- 
by occasioned,  enabling  the  enemy  to  come  up  on  both 
sides  by  water,  and  to  take  and  destroy  as  many  as 
they  pleased.  The  captain  who  was  with  me,  Antonio 
de  Quinones,  said  to  me,  "  Let  us  leave  this  place  and 
save  your  life,  since  you  know  that  without  you  none  of 
us  can  escape ;"  but  he  could  not  induce  me  to  go.  When 
he  saw  this,  he  seized  me  in  his  arms,  that  he  might 
force  me  away ;  and  although  I  would  have  been  better 
satisfied  to  die  than  live,  yet  by  the  importunity  of  this 
captain  and  of  my  other  companions,  we  began  to  re- 
treat, making  our  way  with  our  swords  and  bucklers 
against  the  enemy,  who  pressed  hard  upon  us.  At  this 
moment  there  came  up  a  servant  of  mine  on  horseback, 
and  made  a  little  room  ;  but  presently  he  received  a 
blow  in  his  throat  from  a  lance  thrown  from  a  low  ter- 
race, that  brought  him  to  the  ground.  While  I  was  in 
the  midst  of  this  conflict,  sustaining  the  attacks  of  the 
enemy,  and  waiting  for  the  crowd  on  the  narrow  cause- 
way to  reach  a  place  of  safety,  one  of.  my  servants 
brought  me  a  horse  to  ride  upon.  But  the  mud  on  the 
causeway,  occasioned  by  the  coming  and  going  of  per- 
sons by  water,  was  so  deep  that  no  one  could  stand, 
especially  with  the  jostlings  of  the  people  against  one 
another  in  their  efforts  to  escape. 

I  mounted  the  horse,  but  not  to  fight,  as  this  was  im- 
possible on  horseback ;  but  if  it  had  been  practicable,  I 
should  have  found  on  the  little  island,  opposite  the  nar- 
row causeway,  the  eight  horsemen  I  had  left  there,  who 
were  unable  to  do  more  than  to  effect  their  return  ; 
which,  indeed,  was  so  dangerous  that  two  mares  on 
which  two  of  my  servants  rode  fell  from  the  causeway 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  297 

into  the  water  ;  one  of  them  was  killed  by  the  Indians, 
but  the  other  was  saved  by  some  of  the  infantry.  Ano- 
ther servant  of  mine,  Cristobal  de  Guzman,  rode  a  horse 
that  they  gave  him  at  the  little  island  to  bring  to  me,  on 
which  I  might  make  my  escape  ;  but  the  enemy  killed 
both  him  and  the  horse  before  he  reached  me ;  his  death 
spread  sorrow  through  the  whole  camp,  and  even  to  this 
day  his  loss  is  still  mourned  by  those  who  knew  him. 
But  after  all  our  troubles,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  those 
of  us  who  survived  reached  the  street  of  Tacuba,  which 
was  very  wide  ;  and  collecting  the  people,  I  took  my 
post  with  nine  horsemen  in  the  rearguard.  The  enemy 
pressed  forward  with  all  the  pride  of  victory,  as  if  re- 
solved that  none  should  escape  with  life  ;  but  falling 
back  in  the  best  manner  I  could,  I  sent  word  to  the  trea- 
surer and  auditor  to  retreat  to  the  public  square  in  good 
order.  I  also  sent  similar  orders  to  the  two  other  captains 
who  had  entered  the  city  by  the  street  that  led  to  the 
market-place,  both  of  whom  had  fought  gallantly,  and 
carried  many  entrenchments  and  bridges,  which  they 
had  caused  to  be  well  filled  up,  on  account  of  which 
they  were  able  to  retire  without  loss.  Before  the  re- 
treat of  the  treasurer  and  auditor  some  of  the  enemy 
threw  in  their  way  two  or  three  heads  of  Christian  men 
from  the  upper  part  of  an  entrenchment  were  they  were 
fighting,  but  it  was  not  known  whether  they  were  per- 
sons belonging  to  the  camp  of  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  or 
our  own.  All  being  assembled  in  the  square,  so  large  a 
multitude  of  the  enemy  charged  upon  us  from  every  di- 
rection, that  we  had  as  much  as  we  could  do  to  keep 
them  back ;  and  that  too  in  places  where,  before  this  de- 
feat, the  enemy  would  have  fled  before  three  horse  and 
ten  foot.     Immediately  after,  in  a  lofty  tower  filled  with 


298  LETTERS    OP    CORTES. 

their  idols  that  stood  near  the  square,  they  burned  per- 
fumes and  fumigated  the  air  with  certain  gums  peculiar 
to  this  country,  that  greatly  resemble  anime  ;  which 
they  offer  to  their  idols  in  token  of  victory.*  Although 
we  endeavored  to  throw  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  ene- 
my, it  was  out  of  our  power,  as  our  people  were  hurry- 
ing back  to  the  camp. 

In  this  defeat  thirty-five  or  forty  Spaniards,  and  more 
than  a  thousand  of  our  Indian  allies,  were  slain  by  the 
enemy,  besides  more  than  twenty  Christians  wounded, 
among  whom  was  myself  in  the  leg.  We  lost  the  small 
field-piece  that  we  had  taken  with  us,  and  many  cross- 
bows, muskets,  and  other  arms.  Immediately  after  their 
victory,  in  order  to  strike  terror  into  the  alguazil  mayor 
and  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  the  enemy  carried  all  the  Spa- 
niards, both  living  and  dead,  whom  they  had  taken,  to 
the  Tlatelulco,  which  is  the  market-place,  and  in  some  of 
the  lofty  towers  that  are  situated  there  they  sacrificed 
them  naked,  opening  their  breasts  and  taking  out  their 
hearts  to  offer  them  to  the  idols.  This  was  seen  by  the 
Spaniards  of  Alvarado's  division  from  where  they  were 
fighting,  and  from  the  whiteness  of  the  naked  bodies 
which  they  saw  sacrificed  they  knew  them  to  be  Chris- 
tians ;  but  although  they  suffered  great  sorrow  and  dis- 
may at  the  sight,  they  effected  a  retreat  to  their  camp 
after  having  fought  gallantly  that  day,  and  carried  their 
conquests  almost  to  the  market-place,  which  would  have 
been  taken,  if  God  on  account  of  our  sins  had  not  per- 
mitted so  great  a  disaster.  We  returned  to  our  camp, 
such  was  the  grief  we  felt,  somewhat  earlier  than  had 

*  Gum  Copal  is  obtained  from  Mexico  ;  the  name  is  also  Mexican,  originally 
copalli.    Another  gum  is  found  there  resembling  the  incense  of  Arabia. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  299 

been  usual  on  other  days  ;  and  in  addition  to  our  other 
losses,  we  had  been  told  that  the  brigantines  had  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who  attacked  them  with 
their  canoes  in  the  rear ;  but  it  pleased  God,  this  was 
not  true,  although  the  brigantines  and  the  canoes  of  our 
allies  had  been  seen  in  danger  enough,  and  even  a  bri- 
gautine  came  near  being  lost,  the  captain  and  master  of 
it  being  wounded,  the  former  of  whom  died  eight  days 
afterwards. 

That  day  and  the  following  night,  the  enemy  made 
great  rejoicings  with  horns  and  kettle-drums,  appearing 
to  be  overwhelmed  with  joy ;  and  they  opened  all  the 
streets  and  bridges  as  they  were  before,  and  in  setting 
their  fires  and  sentries  at  night,  they  came  within  two 
bow-shots  of  our  camp ;  but  as  we  had  returned  discom- 
fited, wounded,  and  destitute  of  arms,  there  was  need 
of  rest  and  recruiting.  In  the  mean  time,  the  rulers 
of  the  city  took  occasion  to  send  messengers  to  their 
subjects  in  many  provinces,  to  say  that  they  had  gained 
a  signal  victory  and  destroyed  many  Christians,  and 
that  soon  they  would  put  an  end  to  us,  charging  them  by 
no  means  to  make  peace  with  us  ;  and  the  messengers 
carried  with  them  as  credentials  two  heads  of  horses 
that  they  had  killed,  and  some  others  of  Christians, 
which  they  displayed  for  the  purpose  of  showing 
wherever  it  seemed  advisable  that  there  was  more  rea- 
son for  the  rebellious  to  persevere  than  before.  But 
notwithstanding  all  this,  as  the  enemy  did  not  grow  more 
presumptuous,  nor  sensible  of  our  weakness,  every  day 
some  Spaniards,  on  foot  or  horse,  with  many  of  our 
allies,  made  sallies  into  the  city,  though  they  were  un- 
able to  gain  more  than  a  few  bridges  in  the  next  street 
before  coming  to  the  square. 


300  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

Two  days  after  the  defeat,  which  was  already  known 
throughout  the  adjacent  districts,  some  of  the  inhabitants 
of  a  place  called  Quarnaguacar,  [Cuernavaca,]  who  were 
subject  to  the  city,  but  had  joined  our  allies,  came  to  the 
camp  and  reported  that  the  people  of  Marinalco,  their 
neighbors,  had  done  them  much  mischief  and  laid  waste 
their  country ;  that  they  had  now  formed  an  alliance  with 
the  large  province  of  Cuisco,  and  were  about  to  wage  a 
destructive  war  against  them,  on  account  of  their  having 
become  subjects  of  your  Majesty  and  allies  of  ours  j  and 
that  they  intended  after  subduing  them  to  march  against 
us.  Although  so  short  a  time  had  elapsed  since  our  dis- 
aster, and  we  were  in  a  situation  rather  to  require  succor 
than  to  give  it,  yet  as  they  urged  the  matter  with  great 
importunity,  I  determined  to  go  to  their  assistance  ;  and 
notwithstanding  much  opposition  on  the  part  of  our 
people,  who  said  that  to  send  away  from  the  camp  any 
part  of  our  force  would  be  ruinous  to  ourselves,  I  des- 
patched in  company  with  the  people  who  had  asked  our 
aid  eighty  foot  and  ten  horse,  under  the  command  of 
Andreas  de  Tapia,  whom  I  particularly  charged  to  do 
whatever  would  most  promote  the  service  of  your  Ma- 
jesty, and  our  own  security,  but,  as  he  saw  the  necessi- 
tous condition  in  which  we  were  placed,  not  to  consume 
more  than  ten  days  in  going  and  returning.  He  departed, 
and  having  reached  a  little  village  between  Marinalco 
and  Coadnoacad,  he  found  the  enemy  expecting  him. 
Being  joined  by  the  people  of  Coadnoacad,  he  com- 
menced the  attack  at  once,  and  with  such  gallantry  did 
our  men  acquit  themselves,  that  they  routed  the  enemy 
and  pursued  them  until  they  took  refuge  in  Marinalco. 
That  town  stands  on  a  very  lofty  height,  inaccessible  to 
cavalry  ;  and  on  that  account,  after  destroying  whatever 


CONQtTEST    OF    MEXICO.  301 

was  on  the  plain,  the  detachment  returned  to  camp* 
having  achieved  a  victory  within  the  ten  days.  On  the 
heights  of  Marinalco  there  are  many  springs  of  excellent 
water,  and  the  place  is  cool  and  pleasant. 

While  this  captain  was  absent  on  the  expedition  for 
the  relief  of  our  allies,  some  of  the  Spanish  troops,  both 
infantry  and  cavalry,  as  I  have  already  mentioned,  to- 
gether with  the  allies,  penetrated  the  city  in  a  hostile 
manner  as  far  as  the  great  buildings  on  the  square  ;  they 
were  unable  to  pass  beyond,  because  the  enemy  had 
opened  the  street  of  water  at  the  entrance  of  the  square, 
which  is  very  deep  and  wide,  and  on  the  opposite  side 
was  a  very  large  and  strong  entrenchment,  where  an 
action  ensued,  and  continued  till  night  separated  them. 

A  cacique  of  the  province  of  Tascatecal,  named  Chi- 
chimecatle,  whom  I  mentioned  above  as  having  brought 
the  timber  that  was  prepared  in  that  province  for  the 
brigantines,  had  from  the  beginning  of  the  siege  resided 
with  all  his  people  in  the  camp  of  Pedro  de  Alvarado  j 
and  seeing  that  since  the  defeat  the  Spaniards  had  not 
behaved  with  their  accustomed  spirit,  he  determined  to 
enter  the  city  without  them,  and  attack  the  enemy. — 
Leaving  four  hundred  archers  of  his  own  people  at  a  dan- 
gerous passage  of  water  in  the  road  where  a  bridge  had 
been  destroyed,  from  which  he  had  driven  the  enemy, 
(an  event  that  had  not  before  occurred  without  our  aid,) 
he  pressed  forward  with  his  men,  who  fought  with  great 
bravery,  uttering  loud  cries,  and  calling  out  the  names  of 
their  province  and  lord.  There  were  many  wounded 
and  killed  on  both  sides ;  and  the  enemy  believed  that 
they  would  be  able  to  capture  the  whole  force ;  for,  as 
they  retreated  in  unbroken  order,  the  Tlascalans  pursued 
with  great  resolution,  and  the  Mexicans  expected  to  wreak 

39 


302  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

their  vengeance  upon  them  after  they  had  crossed  a 
water-pass,  where  the  danger  was  always  certain.  But 
Chichimecatle,  with  a  view  to  this  emergency,  had  left 
the  four  hundred  bowmen  at  this  pass  for  his  support ; 
and  when  in  their  retreat  the  Tlascalans  reached  this 
place,  the  enemy  suddenly  charged  upon  them,  but  they 
leaped  into  the  water  and  with  the  aid  of  the  bowmen 
escaped.  The  enemy  returned  to  the  city,  astonished  at 
the  resistance  they  had  met  with,  and  the  boldness  that 
Chichimecatle  had  shown. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  303 


CHAPTER  V. 

Two  days  after  the  expedition  against  Marinalco,  of 
which  I  have  given  your  Majesty  an  account  in  the  fore- 
going pages,  there  arrived  at  our  camp  ten  Indians  of  the 
Otumies,  who  were  slaves  to  the  city,  but  having  become 
subjects  of  your  Majesty  now  every  day  assisted  us  in 
fighting.  They  brought  us  word  that  the  caciques  of  the 
province  of  Matalcingo,  their  neighbors,  had  made  war 
upon  them  and  laid  waste  their  country,  having  burned 
a  town  and  carried  off  some  of  the  inhabitants,  being  re- 
solved to  destroy  all  in  their  power  ;  and  that  it  was  their 
intention  to  attack  our  camps,  when  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city  would  sally  forth  and  put  an  end  to  us. 
We  gave  the  more  credit  to  this  account,  because,  for 
a  few  days  past,  every  time  we  entered  the  city  for  a 
hostile  purpose,  we  had  encountered  some  of  the  people 
of  the  province  of  Matalcingo,  concerning  which  we  had 
little  information  except  that  it  was  extensive,  and  about 
twenty-two  leagues  from  our  quarters.  In  the  complaint 
made  to  us  against  their  neighbors  by  the  Otumies,  they 
gave  us  to  understand  that  they  wished  us  to  send  them 
succor ;  and  although  they  asked  it  at  a  very  unfavorable 
time,  yet  trusting  in  God's  aid,  and  in  order  to  break 
somewhat  the  wings  of  the  enemy,  who  every  day  threat- 
ened us  with  hostilities  from  that  people,  and  manifested 
the  expectations  they  had  of  assistance,  which  could 
come  from  no  other  quarter,  I  determined  to  despatch 
thither    Gonzalo   de   Sandoval,    alguazil   mayor,    with 


304  LETTERS    OF    CORTES.        ' 

eighteen  horse  and  one  hundred  foot,  and  one  bowman ; 
who  accordingly  departed  with  these  troops  and  a  party 
of  the  Otumies,  our  allies.  God  knows  the  danger  which 
they  encountered  in  this  expedition,  and  also  to  which  we 
who  remained  behind  were  exposed;  but  as  it  was  the 
best  policy  for  us  to  exhibit  greater  courage  and  resolu- 
tion than  ever,  and  even  to  die  in  arms,  we  concealed  our 
weakness  as  well  from  our  allies  as  from  the  enemy ;  and 
often,  very  often,  have  I  heard  the  Spanish  soldiers  de- 
clare, that  they  only  wished  it  would  please  God  to  spare 
their  lives,  and  make  them  conquerors  of  the  city,  although 
they  should  derive  no  interest  nor  advantage  from  it; 
from  which  it  will  be  seen  to  what  extremity  we  were 
reduced,  and  on  what  a  slender  chance  we  held  our  per- 
sons and  lives. 

The  alguazil  mayor  proceeded  that  day  to  a  town  of 
the  Otumies,  on  the  frontiers  of  Marinalco,  where  he  slept; 
and  the  next  morning  resumed  his  march,  and  arrived  at 
an  encampment  of  the  Otumies,  which  he  found  deserted 
and  partially  burnt.  Advancing  to  more  level  ground, 
he  discovered  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  near  a  stream, 
who  had  just  set  fire  to  another  town  ;  as  soon  as  they 
saw  him,  they  began  to  fly ;  and  on  the  road  they  took, 
our  people  found  in  their  rear  large  quantities  of  maize  and 
the  roasted  flesh  of  children,  which  they  had  for  pro- 
visions, but  abandoned  as  soon  as  they  saw  the  Spaniards. 
Having  passed  a  stream  that  flowed  in  front  of  the  plain, 
the  enemy  began  to  hold  up,  when  the  alguazil  mayor 
with  his  horsemen  attacked  and  routed  them ;  in  their 
fright  they  took  the  road  to  Matalcingo,  which  was  about 
three  leagues  distant.  The  cavalry  continued  the  pur- 
suit until  they  shut  themselves  up  in  the  town,  where 
they  waited  the  coming  of  the  Spanish  infantry  and  our 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  305 

allies,  who  were  occupied  in  slaying  those  whom  the 
cavalry  had  left  behind.  In  this  rout  more  than  two 
thousand  of  the  enemy  perished.  The  infantry  and  allies, 
exceeding  seventy  thousand  men,  having  reached  the 
place  where  the  cavalry  had  halted,  began  to  advance 
towards  the  town,  in  which  the  enemy  rallied,  having 
placed  their  women,  children  and  effects  safe  in  a  fortified 
place  on  a  lofty  height  near  at  hand.  But  when  our  force 
rushed  furiously  upon  them,  they  retreated  to  the  fort 
which  occupied  a  strong  position  on  a  steep  and  rough  de- 
clivity. The  town  was  burnt  and  plundered  in  a  very 
short  time,  and  as  it  was  evening,  the  alguazil  mayor  was 
not  desirous  of  attacking  the  fort,  especially  as  the  men 
were  weary,  having  been  fighting  the  whole  day.  The 
enemy  spent  all  the  night  in  shouting  and  making  a  con- 
stant din  with  horns  and  kettle  drums. 

The  next  morning  the  alguazil  mayor  led  the  way  up 
to  the  enemies'  fort,  though  with  the  fear  of  encountering 
a  formidable  resistance  ;  but  when  they  reached  the 
place,  none  of  the  enemy  were  to  be  seen  ;  and  some  of 
our  Indian  allies  came  down  from  the  summit  of  the  hill 
and  informed  us  that  there  was  no  one  left,  but  all  the 
enemy  had  gone  away  at  early  dawn.  At  the  same  time 
there  were  many  people  on  the  surrounding  plains,  but 
these  were  Otumies  ;  the  cavalry  believing  them  to  be 
enemies,  rode  towards  them  and  struck  three  or  four 
with  their  lances  ;  and  as  the  language  of  the  Otumies 
is  different  from  that  of  Culua,  they  were  not  understood 
until  they  threw  down  their  arms  and  approached  the 
Spaniards,  and  even  then  three  or  four  of  them  were 
pierced  with  lances ;  but  they  were  well  aware  that  it 
happened  from  their  not  being  known.  Contrary  to  the 
expectations  of  the  enemy,  the  Spaniards  permitted  them 


306  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

to  go  to  their  other  town,  which  was  also  hostile  ;  but 
when  they  saw  so  great  a  force  had  come  against  them, 
they  sued  for  peace  ;  and  the  alguazil  mayor  addressed 
the  cacique  of  that  place,  saying  that  he  knew  I  would 
receive  favorably  all  that  came  and  offered  themselves 
as  subjects  of  your  Majesty,  although  they  were  guilty ; 
and  he  asked  him  to  go  and  advise  the  people  of  Matal- 
cingo  to  come  to  me,  which  he  promised  to  do,  and  also 
to  propose  terms  of  peace  to  the  people  of  Marinalco. 
The  alguazil  mayor,  having  been  thus  successful,  re- 
turned to  his  camp. 

At  that  time  whens  ome  of  our  troops  were  fighting 
in  the  city,  the  inhabitants  sent  to  request  our  interpreter 
to  come  to  them,  as  they  were  desirous  of  treating  for 
peace ;  which,  however,  it  appeared  they  did  not  want 
except  on  the  condition  that  we  should  entirely  abandon 
the  country.  This  they  did  that  we  might  be  induced 
to  afford  them  some  rest,  and  enable  them  to  provide 
themselves  with  what  they  wanted ;  although  they 
seemed  to  be  always  ready  for  a  contest  whenever  we 
gave  them  occasion.  While  they  were  thus  parleying 
with  our  interpreter,  and  our  men  were  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  them,  being  separated  by  only  a  broken 
bridge,  an  old  man  of  their  number,  in  the  sight  of  all, 
drew  forth  from  a  capacious  wallet  certain  things  which 
he  eat,  thereby  giving  us  to  understand  that  they  were 
not  in  want,  because  our  people  had  told  them  they 
would  perish  with  hunger.  Our  allies  then  assured  the 
Spaniards  that  their  proposals  for  peace  were  all  a  pre- 
tence, and  would  have  renewed  hostilities  ;  but  there  was 
no  more  fighting  that  day,  the  leaders  of  the  enemy  de- 
siring to  communicate  with  me. 

Four  days  after  the  return  of  the  alguazil  mayor  from 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  307 

Matalcingo,  the  caciques  of  that  province  and  Marinalco, 
and  of  the  province  of  Cuiscon,  which  is  large  and  of 
great  importance,  and  whose  people  had  also  been  re- 
bellious, entered  our  camp,  and  asked  us  to  pardon  the 
past,  promising  to  be  faithful  hereafter,  as  they  ac- 
cordingly were,  and  have  continued  to  this  day. 

While  the  alguazil  mayor  was  engaged  in  his  expedi- 
tion to  Matalcingo,  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  resolved  to 
sally  forth  by  night,  and  attack  the  camp  of  Alvarado : 
and  at  early  dawn  they  made  the  assault.  As  soon  as 
the  sentinels,  both  horse  and  foot,  discovered  them,  they 
sounded  the  alarm,  "  to  arms  /"  and  the  troops  that  were 
on  the  spot  rushed  upon  the  enemy,  who,  when  they  saw 
the  cavalry,  threw  themselves  into  the  water,  and  in  the 
mean  time  our  troops  came  up  and  fought  with  them  for 
three  hours.  But  when  we  heard  in  our  camp  the  report 
of  the  field-piece  that  was  fired,  we  had  some  fear  that 
our  men  would  not  be  able  to  repulse  the  enemy ;  and  I 
therefore  ordered  an  attack  upon  the  city,  in  order  to 
draw  them  off  from  the  contest  with  Alvarado  ;  and  as 
the  Indians  found  the  Spaniards  in  that  quarter  so  re- 
solute, they  determined  to  return  to  the  city,  where  we 
made  a  descent  the  same  day. 

At  that  time  those  of  us  who  had  been  wounded  in 
the  defeat  were  recovered  ;  the  ship  of  Juan  Ponce  de 
Leon  had  arrived  at  Villa  Rica,  after  being  driven  from 
the  continent  or  island  of  Florida  ;*  and  the  inhabitants 
of  that  city  sent  me  some  powder  and  cross-bows,  of 
which  we  were  in  extreme  want ;  although,  thanks  to  God, 
there  was  not  left  a  single  Country  in  the  whole  land 
about  us  that  had  not  declared  in  our  favor.  But  seeing 
that  the  inhabitants  of  this  city  were  so  rebellious,  and 

*  The  same  navigator  discovered  Florida  a- few  years  before. 


308  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

discovered  greater  signs  of  a  determination  to  perish 
than  any  people  ever  had  done  before,  I  knew  of  no 
middle  course  to  take  with  them  in  order  to  rid  ourselves 
of  so  many  dangers  and  hardships  without  utterly  destroy- 
ing both  them  and  their  city,  which  was  the  most  beau- 
tiful object  in  the  world.  It  was  in  vain  to  tell  them  that 
we  would  never  remove  our  camp,  and  that  our  brigan- 
tines  would  never  cease  to  carry  on  the  war  by  water  ;• 
or  that  we  had  reduced  Matalcingo  and  Marinalco,  and 
there  were  none  left  throughout  the  whole  land  to  succor 
them,  nor  any  place  from  which  they  could  obtain  maize, 
meat,  fruits,  water,  or  any  thing  else  for  their  support. 
The  more  we  made  these  appeals  to  them,  the  less  indi- 
cations they  gave  of  weakness  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
in  fighting  and  all  their  stratagems  for  defence,  we  found 
them  displaying  greater  spirit  than  ever.  In  this  state 
of  things,  considering  that  it  was  now  more  than  forty- 
five  days  since  we  had  invested  the  place,  I  resolved  to 
take  means  for  our  security,  and  to  enable  us  to  press 
the  enemy  more  closely,  namely,  that  as  we  gained  the 
streets  of  the  city,  we  should  destroy  all  the  houses  on 
both  sides ;  so  that  we  should  not  advance  a  step  with- 
out leaving  all  level  with  the  ground,  and  converting  what 
was  water  into  firm  land,  notwithstanding  the  delay  that 
might  ensue.  For  this  purpose  I  assembled  the  lords 
and  chiefs  of  our  allies,  and  informed  them  of  my  de- 
termination, to  the  end  that  they  might  send  a  great 
number  of  their  laborers  with  their  coas,  which  are  im- 
plements of  wood,  of  which  they  make  as  much  use  as 
is  made  in  Spain  of  the  spade  in  digging.  They  an- 
swered, that  they  would  do  so  very  willingly,  and  that 
it  was  an  excellent  project,  with  which  they  were  much 
pleased,  for  it  seemed  to  them  that  it  was  a  means  by 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  309 

which  the  city  could  be  completely  destroyed,  which 
they  had  all  desired  more  than  any  thing  in  the  world. 

Two  or  three  days  passed  while  we  were  concerting 
our  plans  ;  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  were  well 
aware  that  we  were  devising  some  scheme  against  them. 
They  too,  as  it  afterwards  appeared,  were  preparing 
such  means  as  they  could  for  their  defence,  as  we  ima- 
gined at  the  time.  Having  settled  with  our  allies  to 
make  the  assault  by  land  and  water,  the  next  morning 
after  mass  we  took  the  road  to  the  city ;  and  on  arriving 
at  the  water-pass  and  entrenchment  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  large  buildings  on  the  square,  when  about  to  com- 
mence hostilities,  we  were  accosted  by  some  of  the  peo- 
ple and  desired  to  suspend  hostilities,  as  they  intended 
to  sue  for  peace.  I  then  directed  the  men  to  refrain 
from  fighting,  and  calling  to  the  enemy,  said  that  the 
sovereign  of  the  city  should  come  and  confer  with  me 
there,  and  issue  an  order  for  peace  to  be  declared.  After 
they  assured  me  that  some  one  had  gone  to  call  the  ca- 
cique, I  was  detained  more  than  an  hour ;  because  in 
truth  they  had  no  desire  for  peace,  and  thus  it  turned 
out — for  soon,  while  we  were  remaining  inactive,  they 
began  to  pour  upon  us  a  shower  of  arrows,  darts,  and 
stones.  Directly  on  seeing  this,  I  attacked  the  entrench- 
ment, which  we  carried  ;  and  on  entering  the  square, 
we  found  it  filled  with  large  stones,  rendering  it  difficult 
for  the  horses  to  pass,  as  they  require  firm  ground  for 
their  movements  in  war.  We  found  several  streets  thus 
obstructed  with  stones  to  embarrass  the  horses.  From 
that  day  we  had  so  filled  up  this  street  of  water  leading 
from  the  square  that  the  Indians  never  afterwards  re- 
opened it ;  and  henceforth  we  began  by  degrees  to  de- 
stroy the  houses  and  to  obstruct  and  close  up  what  we  had 
40 


310  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

gained  of  the  ditches  and  canals.  As  that  day  we  mus- 
tered more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  warriors 
a  great  deal  was  accomplished  ;  after  which  we  returned 
to  the  camp.  The  brigantines  and  the  canoes  of  our 
allies  had  also  done  much  injury  to  the  city,  and  now 
sought  repose. 

The  day  following  we  entered  the  city  in  the  same 
order,  and  penetrated  as  far  as  the  enclosure  and  grand 
court  of  the  temple,  where  the  towers  of  the  Indians 
are  situated.  I  ordered  the  captains  to  employ  their 
men  in  filling  up  the  canals,  and  levelling  the  difficult 
passes  that  we  had  gained  ;  some  of  our  allies  I  directed 
to  burn  and  destroy  the  houses,  and  others  to  engage  the 
enemy  in  those  quarters  where  we  were  accustomed  to 
meet  them,  and  the  cavalry  to  take  a  position  in  the  rear 
as  a  guard  to  the  whole.  I  ascended  the  highest  tower, 
that  the  Indians  might  know  me,  as  I  was  sensible  that 
it  would  disturb  them  much  to  see  me  in  that  place. 
From  thence  I  animated  our  allies,  and  caused  them  to 
be  relieved  when  it  was  necessary ;  for  as  they  were 
constantly  engaged,  sometimes  the  enemy  would  retreat 
and  sometimes  the  allies  ;  in  the  latter  case  three  or  four 
of  the  cavalry  came  to  their  support,  who  gave  them 
fresh  ardor  and  courage  to  return  to  the  attack. 

In  this  manner  we  entered  the  city  five  or  six  days  in 
succession  ;  and  always  in  retreating  placed  our  allies 
in  front.  Some  of  the  infantry  we  posted  in  ambush  in 
the  houses,  while  we  left  the  cavalry  to  bring  up  the 
rear.  The  order  for  a  retreat  was  given  so  that  all  moved 
at  once,  in  order  to  vacate  the  square.  By  this  means 
and  the  ambuscades  of  the  infantry,  every  evening  we 
killed  some  with  our  lances.  On  one  occasion  seven  or 
eight  horse  had  remained  behind  in  the  square  waiting 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  31  1 

for  the  enemy  to  sally  forth,  who  not  making  their  appear- 
ance, they  pretended  to  retreat.  The  enemy  from  fear 
that  they  would  turn  about  and  charge  upon  them  as 
usual,  had  taken  refuge  behind  walls  ana  on  terraces  in 
great  numbers.  And  when  the  cavalry,  now  eight  or 
nine  in  number,  turned  about  to  pursue  them,  a  part  of 
the  enemy  having  succeeded  in  taking  possession  of  the 
entrance  to  a  street  on  high  ground,  our  men  were  un- 
able to  follow  them  as  they  fled  along  that  street,  but 
were  compelled  to-  resume  their  retreat.  The  enemy, 
elated  with  having  forced  us  to  retire,  were  seized  with 
a  sort  of  frenzy,  but  acted  with  such  prudence  that  they 
confined  themselves  to  situations  from  which  they  could 
not  be  reached,  while  the  cavalry  suffered  great  annoy- 
ance from  the  troops  posted  behind  walls,  and  were  com- 
pelled to  leave  the  ground  with  two  horses  wounded. 
This  occurrence  led  me  to  order  a  strong  ambuscade,  as 
I  shall  hereafter  relate  to  your  Majesty.  On  that  eve- 
ning we  returned  to  our  camp,  after  having  well  secured 
all  that  we  had  taken,  while  the  enemy  exulted  in  the 
belief  that  our  retreat  had  been  caused  by  fear.  The 
same  evening  I  sent  a  messenger  to  the  alguazil  mayor, 
directing  him  to  come  to  our  camp  with  fifteen  horse 
from  his  own  division  and  that  of  Pedro  de  Alvarado. 

The  next  morning  the  alguazil  mayor  arrived  with 
fifteen  horsemen,  and  I  had  with  me  twenty-five  others 
from  the  division  of  Cuyoacan,  making  forty  altogether. 
Ten  of  these  I  ordered  to  sally  forth  in  the  morning  with 
our  main  force,  and  in  connexion  with  the  brigantines,  to 
attack  the  enemy  and  demolish  the  houses  of  the  city  in 
the  usual  manner,  to  as  great  an  extent  as  possible  ;  and 
I  proposed  to  come  up  with  the  other  thirty  horse  when 
it  would  be  time  for  them  to  retire.     I  also  directed  them, 


312  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

that  as  soon  as  they  knew  as  much  of  the  city  to  have 
been  destroyed  as  was  possible  in  that  time,  to  pursue 
the  enemy  by  a  quick  movement  until  they  took  refuge 
in  their  entrenchments,  and  beyond  the  water-streets, 
where  they  should  keep  them  till  the  hour  for  leaving  the 
city.  In  the  mean  time,  I  would  throw  my  party  of 
thirty  horse,  without  being  observed,  into  an  ambuscade 
in  some  of  the  large  buildings  near  those  on  the  square. 
The  Spanish  troops  faithfully  obeyed  my  directions  ;  and 
at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  I  took  the  road  to  the  city 
with  thirty  horse,  and  having  reached  it,  I  posted  them 
in  certain  buildings,  while  I  went  myself  and  ascended  to 
the  top  of  a  lofty  tower  in  my  usual  manner.  Some 
Spaniards  who  were  there  opened  a  tomb,  and  found  in 
it  the  value  of  more  than  1500  castellanos  in  articles  of 
gold.  When  the  hour  had  arrived  for  retiring  from  the 
city,  I  directed  our  people  to  fall  back  in  the  best  order, 
and  that  as  soon  as  they  reached  the  square,  the  cavalry 
should  show  a  disposition  to  attack  the  enemy,  but  with 
the  appearance  of  not  daring  to  do  so.  This  demonstra- 
was  made  when  the  enemy  had  collected  in  great  num- 
bers about  the  square  and  on  it.  The  men  in  ambush 
were  already  impatient  for  the  hour  to  arrive  for  their 
movement,  being  eager  to  acquit  themselves  well  and 
weary  of  delay.  I  now  joined  them,  as  the  Spanish  foot 
and  horse  with  our  Indian  allies,  (to  whom  the  ambush 
was  known,)  were  retiring  from  the  square,  and  the  enemy 
were  in  full  pursuit,  shouting  as  if  they  had  gained  the 
greatest  victory  in  the  world.  The  nine  horsemen  made 
a  feint  of  attacking  them,  and  then  hastily  retired ;  after 
they  had  repeated  this  at  two  different  times,  the  enemy 
were  thrown  into  such  a  fury  that  they  rushed  upon  the 
horsemen,  and  pursued  them  until  they  had  passed  the 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  313 

entrance  of  the  street  where  we  were  concealed  in  am- 
bush. As  soon  as  we  saw  the  Spaniards  pass  on  beyond 
us,  and  heard  the  report  of  a  musket,  which  had  been 
agreed  upon  as  a  signal,  we  knew  it  was  time  to  sally 
'  forth ;  and  calling  aloud  "  SeTior  Santiago"  we  fell  rude- 
ly upon  the  enemy,  and  drove  them  towards  the  square, 
attacking  them  with  lances,  overthrowing  and  cutting  off 
great  numbers  that  fell  into  the  hands  of  our  allies,  who 
joined  in  the  pursuit.  Thus,  by  means  of  this  ambus- 
cade, more  than  fifteen  hundred  of  the  enemy  were 
slain,  all  persons  of  distinguished  rank  and  valor  ;  and 
that  night  our  allies  were  well  supplied  for  their  sup- 
per, as  they  took  the  bodies  of  the  slain  and  cut  them 
up  for  food.  Such  was  the  consternation  of  the  enemy 
on  account  of  this  unexpected  rout,  that  they  neither 
spoke  nor  shouted  during  the  whole  evening,  nor  dared 
to  appear  in  any  street  or  on  any  terrace  that  was  not 
removed  from  danger. 

As  it  was  almost  night  when  we  retreated,  the  enemy 
ordered  certain  slaves,  as  it  afterwards  appeared,  to 
watch  whether  we  actually  retired  or  not ;  and  when 
some  of  them  began  to  appear  in  one  of  the  streets,  ten 
or  twelve  horsemen  attacked  them,  and  pursued  them  so 
closely  that  not  one  escaped.  The  enemy  were  so  much 
alarmed  by  this  victory  of  ours  that  they  never  ven- 
tured again,  during  the  whole  war,  to  enter  the  square 
when  we  retired  from  it,  although  but  a  single  horseman 
was  left  there  ;  nor  did  they  dare  to  pursue  an  Indian  or 
a  footsoldier  belonging  to  our  force,  from  the  apprehension 
of  another  ambush.  The  events  of  this  day,  and  the 
victory  God  our  Lord  granted  us,  were  the  principal 
cause  of  the  city  being  earlier  gained,  the  inhabitants 
having  been  struck  with  dismay,  and  our  friends  reani- 


314  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

mated ;  so  that  we  returned  to  our  camp  with  the  deter- 
mination of  hastening  the  operations  of  the  war,  and  not 
suffering  a  day  to  elapse  without  entering  the  city  until 
the  war  was  at  an  end.  During  that  day  our  division 
met  with  no  loss  except  that  at  the  moment  we  left  our 
ambush  some  horsemen  came  in  collision,  and  one  of 
them  falling  from  his  mare,  the  animal  ran  directly  to  the 
enemy,  who  let  fry  their  arrows  and  wounded  her  so 
badly,  that  disliking  her  reception  she  returned  to  us,  and 
the  same  night  died.  Although  this  circumstance  was  a 
matter  of  regret,  inasmuch  as  our  life  depended  on  our 
horses  and  mares  ;  yet  it  was  less  so  than  if  the  mare  had 
died  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  as  we  were  led  to  ex- 
pect ;  for  if  this  had  been  the  case,  the  enemy  would 
have  derived  from  it  more  joy  than  they  had  experienced 
grief  from  our  success  against  them.  The  brigantines 
and  the  canoes  of  our  allies  had  committed  great  ravages 
in  the  city  on  that  day  without  having  suffered  any  loss. 
We  had  already  known  that  the  Indians  of  the  city 
were  much  disheartened,  and  we  now  learned  from  the 
report  of  two  inconsiderable  persons  who  came  out  to 
our  camp  by  night,  that  the  people  were  perishing  with 
hunger ;  and  that  they  employed  the  night  in  fishing 
amongst  the  houses  of  the  city,  and  in  seeking  in  the 
quarter  we  had  captured  for  wood,  and  for  herbs  and 
roots  to  eat.  As  we  had  filled  up  many  of  the  canals, 
and  removed  numerous  other  obstacles  to  our  progress,  I 
resolved  to  enter  the  city  at  early  dawn,  and  do  all  the 
injury  I  could.  The  brigantines  also  sallied  forth  before 
daylight,  while  I  with  twelve  or  fifteen  horse,  a  body  of 
foot,  and  our  allies,  entered  hastily,  and  stationed  several 
scouts,  who,  when  it  was  light  and  we  were  concealed  in 
ambush,  gave  a  signal,  at  which  we  rushed  forth,  and 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  315 

attacked  an  immense  multitude  of  the  enemy.  But 
they  consisted  of  a  miserable  class  of  people,  who  had 
gone  out  to  seek  for  food,  most  of  them  unarmed,  and 
women  and  children,  of  whom  more  than  eight  hundred 
were  either  killed  or  made  prisoners  in  our  route  through 
that  quarter  of  the  city.  The  brigantines  also  took  many 
prisoners,  as  well  as  canoes  that  were  engaged  in  fish- 
ing, and  committed  great  ravages  upon  the  enemy. 
When  the  captains  and  principal  persons  of  the  city  saw 
us  making  our  usual  progress  through  it,  they  had  been 
so  much  struck  with  terror  by  the  former  ambush,  that 
none  dared  to  attack  us  ;  and  so  we  returned  to  the  camp 
with  much  spoil  and  food  for  our  allies. 

The  next  morning  we  returned  to  the  city  ;  and  as  our 
allies  had  seen  the  order  and  regularity  with  which  we 
proceeded  in  destroying  it,  the  multitude  that  accompa- 
nied us  was  innumerable.  This  day  we  at  length  ob- 
tained possession  of  the  whole  street  of  Tacuba,  and  re- 
paired all  the  breaches  in  it,  so  that  the  division  of  Pedro 
de  Alvarado  could  communicate  with  us  by  the  city  ;  and 
two  other  bridges  were  gained  by  the  principal  street 
leading  to  the  market  place.  The  water  was  filled  up,  and 
the  palace  of  the  cacique  of  the  city  burnt.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  eighteen  years  of  age,  named  Guatimucin, 
who  was  the  second  since  the  death  of  Muteczuma.  In 
these  buildings  the  Indians  had  fortified  themselves,  as 
they  were  large,  strong,  and  surrounded  by  water.  We 
also  gained  two  other  bridges  on  other  streets,  that  were 
adjacent  to  that  leading  to  the  market  place,  and  filled  up 
many  ditches,  so  that  three  of  the  four  quarters  of  the  city 
were  now  in  our  possession,  and  the  Indians  could  only 
retreat  to  the  strongest,  which  comprised  the  houses  most 
enclosed  by  water. 


316  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

The  following  day,  which  was  that  of  the  Apostle  St. 
James,  [July  25th,]  we  entered  the  city  in  the  usual  or- 
der and  passed  along  the  great  street  to  the  market- 
place. We  succeeded  in  gaining  a  very  broad  street  of 
water,  which  the  enemy  had  considered  perfectly  secure ; 
it  detained  us  a  long  time,  and  was  of  a  dangerous  cha- 
racter ;  so  that  we  were  unable  in  all  this  day  to  fill  it 
up,  and  make  it  passable  for  the  cavalry.  As  we  were 
all  on  foot,  and  the  Indians  saw  that  the  horse  had  not 
passed  over,  they  made  a  fresh  attack  upon  us,  many  of 
them  discovering  great  bravery ;  but  we  resisted  them 
successfully,  and  they  returned  to  their  entrenchments 
and  fortified  places,  though  many  of  them  were  wounded 
with  arrows.  The  Spanish  foot  were  also  armed  with 
pikes,  which  I  had  ordered  to  be  made  after  the  great 
defeat  and  found  to  be  highly  useful.  On  this  day  no- 
thing was  heard  on  either  side  of  the  principal  street  but 
the  burning  and  demolition  of  houses,  which  it  was  pain- 
ful to  behold ;  but  our  purposes  required  it,  and  it  was 
necessary  to  proceed  in  this  way.  When  the  inhabitants 
saw  such  havoc  going  on  in  order  to  compel  them  to  sub- 
mission, they  told  our  allies,  who  were  actively  engaged 
in  burning  and  destroying,  that  they  would  have  the  labor 
of  rebuilding ;  for  if  they  (the  Mexicans)  prevailed,  they 
knew  it  would  be  so ;  and  if  not,  they  would  have  to 
build  them  for  us.  It  pleased  God  that  the  truth  of  the 
last  declaration  should  be  confirmed,  for  they  proved  to 
be  the  persons  employed  to  rebuild  the  city. 

At  an  early  hour  the  next  morning  we  entered  the  city 
in  the  usual  manner,  and  having  reached  the  passage  of 
water  which  we  had  commenced  filling  up  the  day  before, 
we  found  it  in  the  same  state  in  which  it  had  been  left. 
We  proceeded  two  bowshots,  and  gained  possession  of 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  317 

two  large  ditches,  that  had  been  excavated  in  the  solid 
earth  of  the  same  street ;  we  then  went  to  a  small  tower 
of  idols,  in  which  we  found  several  heads  of  Christians, 
being  those  of  our  men  whom  they  had  killed ;  a  spec- 
tacle that  excited  in  us  the  deepest  sorrow.  From  this 
tower,  the  street  led  directly  to  the  causeway  of  Sando- 
val's camp ;  and  on  the  left  hand,  another  street  ran  to 
the  market  place,  in  which  there  was  no  water  except  a 
single  ditch  that  they  defended.  We  proceeded  no  farther 
that  day,  but  fought  much  with  the  Indians.  As  God  our 
Lord  always  granted  us  victory,  the  enemy  as  constantly 
felt  our  superiority.  As  soon  as  it  was  evening,  we  re- 
turned to  our  camp. 

As  we  were  getting  ready  the  next  day  for  returning 
to  the  city  at  nine  o'clock,  we  saw  from  our  camp  a  smoke 
issuing  from  two  very  lofty  towers  that  stood  in  the  Tlate- 
bulco,  or  market-place  of  the  city,  and  were  unable  to 
imagine  what  it  could  be ;  as  it  seemed  much  greater 
than  the  fumigations  the  Indians  are  accustomed  to  make 
to  their  idols,  we  conjectured  that  the  division  of  Pedro 
de  Alvarado  had  arrived  there,  but  although  this  was 
really  the  case,  we  could  not  bring  ourselves  to  credit  it. 
Most  certainly  on  that  day  Pedro  de  Alvarado  and  his 
party  conducted  in  a  very  gallant  manner,  for  there  were 
many  bridges  and  entrenchments  to  be  carried,  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  city  always  aided  in  defending  them. 
But  when  he  saw  that  we  had  gone  on  straitening  the 
enemy  from  our  quarter,  he  labored  to  the  utmost  of  his 
ability  to  enter  the  market-place,  since  the  chief  strength 
of  the  enemy  was  concentrated  at  that  point ;  he  was 
not  able,  however,  to  do  more  than  penetrate  within  sight 
of  it,  and  take  those  towers,  and  several  others  adjacent 
to  the  market-place,  which  itself  is  as  broad  as  the  en^ 

41 


318  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

closed  courts  of  many  towers  of  the  city.  Finding  his 
cavalry  unable  to  make  much  progress,  he  was  compel- 
led to  retire,  and  in  his  retreat  he  had  three  horses  wound- 
ed. Thus  Pedro  de  Alvarado  and  his  men  returned  to 
their  quarters.  We  made  no  attempt  that  day  to  gain 
the  single  bridge  and  canal,  which  were  all  that  remained 
between  us  and  the  market-place,  but  spent  the  time  in 
levelling  and  filling  up  all  the  difficult  places ;  when  we 
retired,  the  enemy  pressed  us  closely,  but  it  was  done  at 
their  own  cost. 

The  next  morning  early  we  entered  the  city,  and  as 
there  was  nothing  to  be  gained  before  arriving  at  the  mar- 
ket-place but  a  passage  of  water  with  its  entrenchment, 
near  the  little  tower  I  have  mentioned,  we  began  the  con- 
test, when  an  ensign  with  two  or  three  Spaniards  leapt 
into  the  water,  and  the  enemy  immediately  abandoned 
the  place.  We  commenced  filling  up  at  once,  and  mak- 
ing preparations  so  as  to  cross  with  the  horses ;  and  while 
thus  engaged,  Pedro  de  Alvarado  arrived  by  the  same 
street  with  four  horsemen,  and  great  was  the  joy  on  the 
part  of  his  division  and  our  own  ;  for  the  road  was  now 
open  to  a  speedy  termination  of  the  war.  Pedro  de  Al- 
varado had  left  in  his  rear  a  detachment  of  men  both  to 
secure  what  had  been  gained  and  for  his  own  protection ; 
and  as  soon  as  the  passage  was  rendered  fordable,  I  pro- 
ceeded with  several  horse  to  look  at  the  market-place, 
having  first  directed  the  people  of  our  party  not  to  ad- 
vance beyond  this  passage.  We  then  went  on  and  pass- 
ed through  the  square,  admiring  its  arcades,  the  terraces 
of  which  were  filled  with  the  enemy,  who,  when  they 
saw  the  horsemen  riding  in  it,  (as  it  is  of  great  extent,) 
were  afraid  to  approach  us.  I  ascended  a  tower  ad- 
joining the  market-place,  in  which  and  others  we  found 
as  offerings  to  their  idols  the  heads  of  our  Christians  who 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  319 

had  been  killed,  and  of  the  Tlascallan  Indians,  our  allies, 
between  whom  and  the  Mexicans  a  very  old  and  deadly 
feud  existed.  From  that  tower  I  surveyed  the  portions 
of  the  city  that  had  fallen  into  our  hands,  comprising 
without  doubt  seven  eighths  of  the  whole ;  and  seeing 
that  it  was  not  possible  for  so  many  people  to  subsist  in 
such  a  narrow  space,  especially  as  the  houses  that  re- 
mained to  them  were  small,  and  every  one  placed  by  it- 
self on  the  water ;  and  above  all,  considering  the  great 
famine  that  prevailed  amongst  them  of  which  the  half- 
eaten  roots  and  bark  of  trees  that  we  found  in  the  streets 
afforded  ample  proof;  I  determined  -to  discontinue  hos- 
tilities for  some  days,  and  to  offer  some  conditions  by 
which  so  great  a  multitude  might  be  saved  from  destruc- 
tion ;  and  as  it  certainly  occasioned  me  much  sorrow  and 
regret  to  continue  to  harass  them,  I  constantly  urged 
them  to  make  terms  of  peace.  But  they  declared  that 
they  would  not  by  any  means  accept  them,  and  that 
the  only  thing  left  for  them  was  to  die  with  arms  in  their 
hands ;  that  we  should  have  nothing  of  all  they  possessed, 
but  they  would  burn  and  sink  in  the  water  every  thing 
they  had,  whence  it  should  never  reappear.  Thereupon, 
not  being  disposed  to  render  evil  for  evil,  I  dissembled 
my  feelings  by  forbearing  to  attack  them. 

As  we  had  but  little  powder  left,  we  had  been  plan- 
ning for  more  than  fifteen  days  the  construction  of  a 
battering  engine  ;  and  though  I  had  no  mechanics  who 
knew  how  to  make  one,  some  carpenters  undertook  to 
construct  a  small  machine,  which  I  had  no  idea  we 
should  be  able  to  use.  In  the  course  of  a  few  days, 
during  which  we  held  the  Indians  in  straitened  quarters, 
we  completed  it,  and  brought  it  to  be  placed  in  the 
square  of  the  market,  on  a  building  resembling  a  theatre, 


320  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

which  is  in  the  centre  of  the  square,  made  of  stone  and 
mortar,  about  fifteen  feet  in  height  and  thirty  paces  from 
angle  to  angle.  This  structure  is  intended  to  be  used  at 
their  festivals  and  sports,  so  that  the  actors  on  those  oc- 
casions being  placed  upon  it  may  be  easily  seen  by  all 
the  people  in  the  market-place,  both  above  and  below 
the  arcades.  When  the  machine  was  brought  there,  a 
delay  of  several  days  took  place  in  adapting  it  to  its 
situation,  during  which  time  our  Indian  allies  threatened 
the  inhabitants  that  by  means  of  it  we  should  destroy 
them  all.  Had  no  other  effect  been  produced  by  this 
engine  but  to  alarm  the  people,  which  we  hoped  would 
have  led  to  a  surrender,  it  would  have  been  sufficient ; 
but  no  such  result  flowed  from  it,  for  neither  the  carpen- 
ters completed  their  design,  nor  were  the  enemy,  although 
they  feared  it,  induced  to  make  any  proposals  of  sub- 
mission, and  we  concealed  from  them  the  defects  of  the 
machine  by  pretending  that  out  of  compassion  towards 
them  we  forbore  to  use  it  for  their  destruction. 

The  day  after  depositing  the  battering  engine  in  the 
market-place,  on  entering  the  city,  as  three  or  four  days 
had  elapsed  since  the  cessation  of  hostilitiesr  we  found 
the  streets  through  which  we  passed  filled  with  women, 
children,  and  other  wretched  objects,  dying  of  hunger, 
and  wandering  about  with  distressed  and  haggard  looks, 
presenting  the  most  melancholy  spectacle  in  the  world ; 
and  1  ordered  our  allies  to  do  them  no  harm.  But  none 
of  the  warriors  made  their  appearance  where  it  was 
possible  for  them  to  receive  any  injury,  though  we  saw 
them  on  the  terraces,  covered  with  the  mantles  they  are 
accustomed  to  wear,  and  without  arms.  I  sent  them 
this  day  proposals  of  peace,  but  their  answers  were  de- 
ceptive ;  and  as  they  had  wasted  the  greater  part  of  the 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  321 

day  in  this  business,  I  informed  them  that  it  was  my  in- 
tention to  attack  them,  and  desired  that  they  would  cause 
their  people  to  retire,  otherwise  I  should  give  our  allies 
leave  to  destroy  them.  They  replied,  that  they  desired 
peace  ;  to  which  I  rejoined  that  I  did  not  see  amongst 
them  the  cacique  with  whom  I  was  to  treat,  but  if  he 
would  come  I  would  give  every  pledge  for  his  safety, 
and  treat  of  peace.  When  we  discovered  that  it  was 
all  a  trick,  and  that  they  were  prepared  to  fight  us,  after 
having  many  times  warned  them  that  I  would  bring  them 
into  closer  quarters,  and  reduce  them  to  severer  necessi- 
ties, I  ordered  Pedro  de  Alvarado  to  enter  with  all  his 
force  into  one  part  of  an  extensive  quarter  of  the  city 
still  occupied  by  the  enemy,  in  which  there  were  more 
than  a  thousand  houses ;  and  I  entered  another  part  of 
it  on  foot  with  my  own  men,  because  we  were  unable  to 
approach  it  on  horseback.  The  battle  was  so  fiercely 
fought,  both  by  us  and  our  allies,  that  we  gained  posses- 
sion of  the  whole  district ;  and  so  great  was  the  mortality 
amongst  our  enemies,  that  the  number  killed  and  made 
prisoners  exceed  twelve  thousand  souls.  Our  allies  prac- 
tised such  cruelty  towards  the  enemy,  that  they  spared 
the  lives  of  none,  although  greatly  reproved  and  punished 
by  us  for  their  want  of  humanity. 

Returning  to  the  city  the  following  day,  I  ordered  hos- 
tilities to  be  suspended,  and  the  enemy  left  undisturbed. 
When  their  leaders  saw  so  great  a  multitude  arrayed 
against  them,  and  knew  they  had  assembled  for  the  pur- 
pose of  destroying  the  citizens  and  those  whom  they 
were  accustomed  to  command ;  when  they  beheld  the 
extreme  necessities  of  their  people,  and  that  they  had 
no  resting  place  but  on  the  dead  bodies  of  their  country- 
men ;  being  desirous  of  avoiding  so  great  a  calamity, 


322  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

they  addressed  our  people  and  said,  that  as  we  had  not 
yet  put  an  end  to  them  they  wished  me  to  be  called  in 
great  haste,  for  they  desired  to  confer  with  me.  As  all 
the  Spaniards  desired  this  war  to  be  brought  to  a  con- 
clusion, and  deplored  the  unhappy  effects  attending  it, 
they  were  much  pleased  with  this  announcement,  think- 
ing that  the  Indians  sought  peace  ;  and  they  came  to 
call  and  importune  me  to  go  to  a  certain  entrenchment, 
where  were  some  of  the  leaders  of  the  enemy  who 
wished  to  confer  with  me.  Although  I  was  aware  that 
my  going  would  have  little  effect,  I  was  determined  to 
go  as  desired,  being  at  the  same  time  sensible  that  the 
refusal  to  surrender  rested  solely  Avith  the  cacique  and 
three  or  four  nobles  of  the  city,  for  the  rest  of  the  people, 
living  or  dead,  had  already  desired  a  deliverance.  When 
arrived  at  the  entrenchment,  they  said  to  me  :  "  That 
since  they  regarded  me  as  the  offspring  of  the  sun,  and 
the  sun  in  so  short  a  space  of  time  as  one  day  and  one 
night  revolved  around  the  whole  world,  I  ought  there- 
fore to  despatch  them  out  of  life  in  as  brief  a  space  as 
possible,  and  thus  deliver  them  from  their  troubles  ;  for 
they  desired  to  die  and  go  to  Heaven  to  their  Orchilobus, 
who  was  waiting  to  receive  them  into  a  state  of  peaceful 
repose."  This  is  the  idol  for  which  they  entertain  the 
highest  veneration.  I  answered  in  terms  designed  to  in- 
duce them  to  surrender,  but  without  effect,  although  they 
saw  in  us  more  indications  and  signs  of  peace  than  were 
ever  shown  to  a  conquered  people  before,  we  with  the 
aid  of  our  Lord  being  conquerors. 

The  enemy  being  reduced  to  the  last  extremity,  as 
may  be  inferred  from  what  is  above  related,  in  order  to 
shake  their  resolution,  as  they  seemed  bent  on  death,  I 
conferred  with  a  personage  of  high  rank  amongst  them 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  323 

who  was  a  prisoner,  having  been  taken  two  or  three  days 
before  by  an  uncle  of  Don  Fernando,  lord  of  Tezcuco, 
while  fighting  in  the  city,  and  severely  wounded  ;  and  I 
asked  him  if  he  wished,  to  return  to  the  city  ?  he  an- 
swered, yes  ;  and  when  the  next  day  we  entered  it,  I 
sent  him  with  some  Spaniards  who  would  deliver  him 
to  the  inhabitants.  With  this  person  of  rank  I  conferred 
much,  in  order  that  he  might  address  the  cacique  and 
other  important  personages  on  the  subject  of  peace  ;  and 
he  promised  me  that  he  would  do  every  thing  in  his 
power.  He  was  received  by  the  inhabitants  with  great 
respect  as  a  person  of  high  standing ;  but  when  he  was 
taken  before  Guautimucin,  his  lord,  and  began  to  address 
him  on  the  subject  of  peace,  he  immediately  ordered  him 
to  be  slain  and  sacrificed.  The  answer  we  were  ex- 
pecting was  given  by  them  in  loud  cries,  vociferating 
that  "  death  was  all  they  wished  ;"  when  they  began  to 
assail  us  with  a  shower  of  darts,  arrows  and  stones,  and 
to  fight  furiously,  so  much  so  that  they  killed  one  of  our 
horses  with  a  dalle  that  a  man  carried,  made  of  one  of 
our  swords  ;  but  in  the  end  it  cost  them  dear,  for  many 
of  them  fell.     After  this  we  returned  to  our  camp. 

The  next  day  we  returned  to  the  city  ;  but  the  enemy 
were  so  much  reduced  that  great  numbers  of  our 
allies  had  ventured  to  pass  the  night  there.  When  arrived 
in  sight  of  the  enemy,  we  no  longer  sought  to  contend  with 
them,  but  went  deliberately  through  the  city ;  for  we 
expected  every  hour  and  every  moment  that  they  would 
come  to  us  with  offers  of  peace.  In  order  to  lead  them 
to  this  step,  I  rode  to  an  entrenchment  of  theirs,  which 
was  very  strong,  and  called  to  certain  chiefs  who  were 
behind  it,  whom  I  knew,  and  said — "  Since  they  saw 
themselves  in  a  desperate  situation,  and  knew  that  if  I 


324  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

pleased  in  one  hour  none  of  them  would  be  left  alive,  why 
would  not  Guautimucin,  their  lord,  come  to  confer  with 
me,  on  my  promising  not  to  injure  him;  for  should  he 
and  they  seek  peace,  they  would  be  well  received  and 
treated  by  me."  I  exchanged  other  words  with  them, 
and  even  drew  tears  from  their  eyes,  when  they  answer- 
ed— "  That  they  were  fully  conscious  of  their  error  and 
hopeless  condition,  and  they  would  go  to  speak  with  their 
lord,  and  return  instantly  with  an  answer;  and  requested 
me  to  remain  where  I  was."  They  went  away,  but  came 
back  in  a  few  moments,  and  said — "  That  as  it  was  now 
evening,  their  lord  had  not  come  to  confer  with  me  ;  but 
that  in  the  middle  of  the  next  day  he  would  come  at  all 
events,  and  confer  with  me  in  the  square  of  the  market- 
place ;"  so  we  returned  to  our  camp.  I  gave  directions 
for  the  next  day  that  they  should  get  ready  a  carpeted 
seat,  as  is  their  custom,  on  the  rectangular  building  in  the 
middle  of  the  square  for  the  cacique  and  the  chief  men 
of  the  city,  and  that  a  repast  should  be  prepared,  as  was 
accordingly  done. 

The  next  morning  we  went  to  the  city,  and  I  cautioned 
our  people  to  be  on  their  guard,  in  case  the  inhabitants 
should  be  guilty  of  any  treachery,  that  we  might  not  be 
taken  by  surprise.  I  also  gave  the  same  caution  to  Pedro 
de  Alvarado,  who  was  there ;  and  when  we  reached  the 
market-place,  I  sent  a  message  to  Guautimucin,  inform- 
ing him  that  I  waited  his  coming.  It  appeared,  however, 
that  he  had  determined  not  to  come,  but  sent  to  me  five 
of  the  principal  nobles  of  the  city,  whose  names  I  omit 
to  mention  as  a  matter  of  no  great  consequence.  These 
persons  having  arrived  said,  "that their  lord  had  sent 
them  to  beg  me  to  pardon  him  for  not  coming,  as  he  was 
afraid  to  appear  before  me,  and  also  was  in  bad  health  ; 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  325 

but  that  he  had  deputed  others,  who  would  perform  what- 
ever I  should  command.  We  were  gratified  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  these  nobles,  although  the  cacique  himself  did 
not  appear ;  for  the  road  seemed  now  open  to  a  speedy 
conclusion  of  difficulties  in  this  whole  affair.  I  received 
them  with  a  cheerful  countenance,  and  immediately  or- 
dered them  to  be  served  with  something  to  eat  and  drink, 
when  they  exhibited  proofs  of  the  want  and  privation  they 
had  endured.  After  they  had  finished  their  repast,  I  bade 
them  tell  their  sovereign  that  there  was  no  occasion  for 
his  fears,  and  that  I  would  promise  before  he  came  into 
my  presence  to  do  him  no  injury,  nor  detain  him ;  but 
that  without  him  nothing  could  be  effected  with  perfect 
agreement  and  good  understanding.  I  directed  provi- 
sions to  be  given  them  to  take  to  their  lord  ;  and  they  pro- 
mised to  do  every  thing  in  their  power  to  promote  the  ob- 
ject in  view ;  and  so  they  departed.  In  two  hours  they 
returned,  bringing  me  some  fine  mantles  of  cotton, 
such  as  they  wore,  and  informed  me  that  Guautimuchv 
their  lord,  would  by  no  means  come,  nor  did  he  desire 
to  do  so,  but  wished  to  be  excused  from  conferring  on 
the  subject  in  question.  I  then  repeated  to  them,  that  I 
knew  no  cause  why  he  should  fear  to  come  before  me, 
when  he  saw  that  I  treated  well  the  persons  who  to  my 
knowledge  had  been  the  chief  promoters  of  the  war,  whom 
I  suffered  to  go  and  come  in  safety  without  receiving 
the  slightest  harm  ;  and  I  begged  them  to  return  and 
urge  him  much  to  make  his  appearance,  as  it  would  be 
for  his  interest,  and  I  would  render  it  of  great  advantage 
to  him.  They  consented  to  do  so,  and  promised  to  re- 
turn the  next  day  with  his  answer.  So  they  went  away, 
and  we  returned  to  our  camp. 

Early  the  next  morning  some  nobles  visited  our  camp, 
42 


LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 


and  desired  me  to  go  to  the  square  of  the  market-place 
in  the  city,  for  their  lord  wished  to  confer  with  me  there. 
Supposing  it.  to  be  true,  I  mounted  a  horse,  and  we  took 
the  road  to  the  city  ;  but  after  waiting  more  than  three  or 
four  hours  at  the  appointed  place,  he  failed  to  appear. 
As  soon  as  I  perceived  the  deception,  and  that  neither 
the  lord  nor  any  other  messengers  came,  I  sent  for  our 
Indian  allies  who  had  remained  at  the  entrance  of  the 
city,  about  a  league  from  where  we  were,  agreeably  to 
my  orders,  being  informed  that  the  inhabitants  desired  to 
treat  with  me  for  peace,  and  I  should  not  want  them  within 
the  city ;  they  came  to  me  immediately,  together  with  the 
troops  of  Pedro  de  Alvarado's  camp.  As  soon  as  these 
troops  arrived,  we  attacked  some  entrenchments  and 
ditches,  the  only  defences  that  remained  in  the  enemy's 
power  ;  and  both  we  and  our  allies  took  possession  of 
as  many  of  them  as  we  wished.  At  the  time  I  left  the 
camp,  I  had  made  arrangements  for  Gonzalo  de  Sando- 
val to  enter  with  the  brigantines  that  part  of  the  city  where 
the  Indians  were  strongly  fortified,  and  when  the  enemy 
were  surrounded,  to  delay  the  attack  until  he  saw  our  divi- 
sion engaged ;  so  that  being  thus  closely  invested  and  pres- 
sed on  every  side,  they  might  have  no  space  left  for  them 
to  move,  except  over  dead  bodies,  and  on  the  terraces  that 
remained  to  them ;  being  for  the  same  reason  destitute  of 
arrows,  darts  and  stones  with  which  to  annoy  us.  Our  allies 
marched  with  us,  armed  with  sword  and  buckler ;  and 
such  was  the  havoc  made,  both  by  land  and  sea,  that 
more  than  forty  thousand  souls  perished  or  were  made 
prisoners  that  day ;  and  so  piercing  were  the  cries  and 
lamentations  of  women  and  children  that  every  heart  was 
moved,  and  we  had  even  more  to  do  to  restrain  our  allies 
from  the  slaughter  and  the  practice  of  excessive  cruelty, 
than  to  fight  the  enemy ;  the  people  of  this  country  being 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  327 

addicted  to  a  cruelty  exceeding  what  had  ever  been 
known  in  any  generation,  and  violating  in  a  greater  de- 
gree the  laws  of  nature  and  humanity.  Our  allies  took 
this  day  an  immense  quantity  of  spoil,  which  we  could 
in  no  wise  prevent,  for  we  were  but  nine  hundred  Span- 
iards, while  they  amounted  to  more  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  men,  and  no  care  or  attention  on  our 
part  sufficed  to  prevent  them  from  plundering,  although 
we  did  all  in  our  power.  One  reason  why  I  had  been 
desirous  on  previous  days  to  effect  an  arrangement  with 
the  inhabitants,  was,  that  they  might  not  throw  their  trea- 
sure into  the  water,  and  thus  lead  our  allies  to  commit 
depredations  on  whatever  they  could  find  ;  as  I  feared 
that  by  this  means  your  Majesty  would  gain  but  a  small 
portion  of  the  {j£eat  wealth  contained  in  this  city  ac- 
cording to  my  previous  representations.  It  being  now 
late  in  the  day,  and  the  pestilential  odor  of  the  dead  bodies 
becoming  insupportable,  from  their  having  lain  about  the 
streets  for  several  days,  we  returned  to  our  camp.  The 
same  evening  I  planned  that  on  our  return  to  the  city  the 
next  day,  we  should  take  with  us  three  pieces  of  ordnance, 
as  I  feared  that  the  enemy  being  crowded  into  so  narrow 
quarters,  and  having  no  room  to  move,  would  endeavor 
to  drown  the  Spaniards  without  striking  a  blow,  when 
they  sought  to  carry  their  defences  by  storm  ;  and  on  this 
account  I  proposed  to  annoy  them  with  the  guns  from  a 
distance,  whenever  they  should  sally  forth  against  us.  I 
also  ordered  the  alguazil  mayor  to  be  in  readiness  with 
the  brigantines  on  the  following  day  to  enter  a  large  basin 
which  was  situated  amongst  the  houses  of  the  city,  where 
all  their  canoes  were  collected ;  and  as  so  few  houses 
remained  to  the  enenrv,  in  which  the  lord  of  the  city 
could  take  refuge,  it  might  happen  that  he  would  embark 


328  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

in  a  canoe  with  some  of  his  nobles,  without  knowing  what 
course  to  take.  We  thus  made  our  arrangements  for  en- 
tering the  city  on  the  following  morning. 

As  soon  as  it  was  day,  I  caused  our  whole  force  to  be 
in  readiness,  and  the  heavy  guns  to  be  brought  out ;  and 
the  day  before  I  had  ordered  Pedro  de  Alvarado  to  wait 
for  me  in  the  square  of  the  market-place,  and  not  to  at- 
tack the  enemy  until  I  arrived.  Being  all  assembled, 
and  the  brigantines  drawn  up  ready  for  action  on  the 
right  of  the  houses  situated  on  the  water,  where  the 
icnemy  were  stationed,  I  directed  that  when  they  heard 
the  discharge  of  a  musket  the  land  force  should  enter 
the  small  part  of  the  city  that  remained  to  be  taken  and 
drive  the  enemy  towards  the  water  where  the  brigan- 
tines lay ;  and  I  enjoined  much  upon  them  to  look  for 
Guautimucin,  and  endeavor  to  take  him  alive,  as  in  that 
case  the  war  would  cease.  I  then  ascended  a  terrace, 
and  before  the  combat  began  addressed  some  of  the 
nobles  whom  I  knew,  asking  them  "  for  what  reason  their 
lord  refused  to  come  to  me,  when  they  were  reduced  to 
such  extremities?"  adding,  iSthat  there  was  no  good 
cause  why  they  should  all  perish,  and  that  they  should 
go  and  call  him,  and  have  no  fears."  Two  of  the  prin- 
cipal nobles  then  went  to  call  their  lord.  After  a  short  time 
there  returned  with  them  one  of  the  most  considerable 
of  all  these  personages,  named  Ciguacoaein,  a  captain 
and  governor  over  them  all,  by  whose  counsels  the  whole 
affairs  of  the  war  were  conducted ;  and  I  received  him 
with  great  kindness,  that  he  might  feel  perfectly  secure 
and  free  from  apprehensions.  At  last  he  said,  "  that  the 
cacique  would  by  no  means  come  into  my  presence,  pre- 
ferring rather  to  die  ;  and  that  his  determination  grieved 
him  much,  but  that  I  mu6t  do  whatever  I  desired ;"  and 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  329 

when  I  saw  that  this  was  his  settled  purpose,  I  told  the 
noble  messenger  to  return  to  his  friends,  and  prepare  for 
the  renewal  of  the  war,  which  I  was  resolved  to  continue 
until  their  destruction  was  complete.     So  he  departed. 

More  than  five  hours  had  been  spent  in  these  confe- 
rences, during  which  time  many  of  the  inhabitants  were 
crowded  together  upon  piles  of  the  dead,  some  were  on 
the  water,  and  others  were  seen  swimming  about,  or 
drowning  in  the  part  of  the  lake  where  the  canoes  were 
tying,  which  was  of  considerable  extent.  Indeed,  so 
excessive  were  the  sufferings  of  the  people,  that  no  one 
could  imagine  how  they  were  able  to  sustain  them ; 
and  an  immense  multitude  of  men,  women  and  children 
were  compelled  to.  seek  refuge  with  us  ;  many  of  whom 
in  their  eagerness  to  reach  us  threw  themselves  into  the 
water,  and  were  drowned  amongst  the  mass  of  dead 
bodies.  It  appeared  that  the  number  of  persons  who 
had  perished,  either  from  drinking  salt  water,  from  fa- 
mine or  pestilence,  amounted  altogether  to  more  than 
fifty  thousand  souls.  In  order  to  conceal  their  necessi- 
tous condition  from  our  knowledge,  the  bodies  of  the 
dead  were  not  thrown  into  the  water,  lest  the  brigantines 
should  come  in  .contact  with  them ;  nor  were  they  taken 
away  from  the  places  where  they  had  died,  lest  we  should 
see  them  about  the  city.  But  in  those  streets  where  they 
had  perished,  we  found  heaps  of  dead  bodies  so  frequent 
that  a  person  passing  could  not  avoid  stepping  on  them ; 
and  when  the  people  of  the  city  flocked  towards  us,  I 
caused  Spaniards  to  be  stationed  through  all  the  streets 
to  prevent  our  allies  from  destroying  the  wretched  per- 
sons who  came  out  in  such  multitudes.  I  also  charged 
the  captains  of  our  allies  to  forbid,  by  all  means  in  their 
power,  the  slaughter  of  these  fugitives  ;  yet  all  my  pre- 


330  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

cautions  were  insufficient  to  prevent  it,  and  that  day 
more  than  fifteen  thousand  lost  their  lives.  At  the  same 
time  the  better  classes  and  the  warriors  of  the  city  were 
pent  up  within  narrow  limits,  confined  to  a  few  terraces 
and  houses,  or  sought  refuge  on  the  water,  but  no  con- 
cealment prevented  our  seeing  their  miserable  condition 
and  weakness  with  sufficient  clearness.  As  the  evening 
approached,  and  no  signs  of  their  surrender  appeared, 
I  ordered  the  two  pieces  of  ordnance  to  be  levelled  to- 
wards the  enemy  to  try  their  effect  in  causing  them  to 
yield  :  but  they  suffered  greater  injury  when  full  license 
was  given  to  the  allies  to  attack  them  than  from  the  can- 
non, although  the  latter  did  them  some  mischief.  As  this 
was  of  little  avail,  I  ordered  the  musketry  to  be  fired  ; 
when  a  certain  angular  space  where  they  were  crowded 
together  was  gained,  and  some  of  the  people  thrown  into 
the  water ;  those  that  remained  there  yielded  themselves 
prisoners  without  a  struggle.  In  the  mean  time,  the  bri- 
gantines  suddenly  entered  that  part  of  the  lake,  and 
broke  through  the  midst  of  the  fleet  of  canoes,  the  war- 
riors who  were  in  them  not  daring  to  make  any  resistance. 
It  pleased  God,  that  the  captain  of  a  brigantine,  named 
Garci  Holguin  came  up  behind  a  canoe  in  which  there 
seemed  to  be  persons  of  distinction ;  and  when  the 
archers  who  were  stationed  in  the  bow  of  the  brigantine 
took  aim  at  those  in  the  canoe,  they  made  a  signal  that 
the  cacique  was  there,  that  the  men  might  not  discharge 
their  arrows  ;  instantly  our  people  leaped  into  the  canoe, 
and  seized  in  it  Guautimucin,  and  the  lord  of  Tacuba, 
together  with  other  distinguished  persons  that  accompa- 
nied the  cacique.  Immediately  after  this  occurrence, 
Garci  Holguin,  the  captain,  delivered  to  me  on  a  terrace 
adjoining  the  lake,  where  I  was  standing,  the  cacique  of 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  331 

the  city  with  other  noble  prisoners  ;  who,  as  I  bade  him 
sit  down,  without  showing  any  asperity  of  manner,  came 
up  to  me,  and  said  in  his  own  tongue,  "  That  he  had 
done  all  that  was  incumbent  on  him  in  defence  of  him- 
self and  his  people,  until  he  was  reduced  to  his  present  con- 
dition ;  that  now  I  might  do  with  him  as  I  pleased."  He 
then  laid  his  hand  on  a  poniard  that  I  wore,  telling  me  to 
strike  him  to  the  heart.  I  spoke  encouragingly  to  him, 
and  bade  him  have  no  fears.*  Thus  the  cacique  being 
taken  a  prisoner,  the  war  ceased  at  this  point,  which  it 
pleased  God  our  Lord  to  bring  to  a  conclusion  on  Tuesday, 
Saint  Hippolytus'  day,  the  thirteenth  of  August,  1521.  So 
that  from  the  day  when  the  city  was  first  invested,  the 
30th  of  May  in  that  year,  until  it  was  taken,  seventy-five 


*  Humboldt  gives  the  following  account  of  his  endeavors,  when  in  Mexico,  to 
ascertain  the  place  where  the  capture  of  Guatimotzin  occurred  : — "  Strangers 
are  s'hown  the  bridge  of  Clerigo,  near  the  great  square  of  Tlatelolco,  as  the 
memorable  spot  where  the  last  Aztec  king  Quauhtemotzin,  nephew  of  his  pre- 
decessor, king  Cuitlahuatzin,  and  son  in  law  of  Montezuma  II.,  was  taken.  But 
the  result  of  the  most  careful  researches  which  myself  and  the  padre  Pichardo 
could  make  was,  that  the  young  king  fell  into  the  hands  of  Garci  Holguin  in  a 
great  basin  of  water  which  was  formerly  between  the  Garita  del  Peralvilla,  the 
square  of  Santiago  de  Tlatelolco,  and  the  bridge  of  Amexac.  Cortes  happened 
to  be  on  the  terrace  of  a  house  of  Tlatelolco  when  the  young  king  was  brought 
a  prisoner  to  him.  '  I  made  him  sit  down,'  says  the  conqueror  in  his  third  letter 
to  the  emperor,  Charles  V.,  '  and  I  treated  him  with  confidence  ;  but  the  young 
man  put  his  hand  on  the  poniard  which  I  wore  at  my  side,  and  exhorted  me 
to  kill  him,  because,  since  he  had  done  all  that  his  duty  to  himself  and  his  people 
demanded  of  him,  he  had  no  other  desire  but  death.'  This  trait  is  worthy  of 
the  best  days  of  Greece  and  Rome.  Under  every  zone,  whatever  may  be  the 
complexion  of  men,  the  language  of  strong  hearts  struggling  with  misfortune 
is  the  same.  We  have  already  seen  what  was  the  tragical  end  of  this  unfortu- 
nate Quauhtemotzin." 

We  annex  the  original  of  these  concluding  remarks  out  of  justice  to  the  emi- 
nent author : — "  Co  trait  est  digne  du  plus  beau  temps  de  la  Grece  et  de  Rome. 
Sous  toutes  les  zones,  quelle  que  soit  la  couleur  des  hommes,  le  langage  des 
ames  fortes  est  le  meme  lorsqu'  elles  luttent  contre  le  malheur.  Nous  avons 
vu  plus  haut  quelle  fut  la  fin  tragique  de  cet  infortun<§  Quauhtemotzin  •"— JVbw, 
Esp.  p.  192,  4to.ed. 


<f 


332  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

days  had  elapsed ;  during  which  time  your  Majesty  will 
see  what  labors,  dangers,  and  calamities  your  subjects 
endured  ;  and  their  deeds  afford  the  best  evidence  how 
much  they  exposed  their  lives.* 

*  The  anniversary  of  the  capture  of  Graatimotzini,  aw3  the  consequent  fall  of 
the  city,  was  regularly  observed  with  great  pomp  and  ceremony  at  Mexico 
during  the  three  centuries  of  Spanish  rule  ;  but  since  the  revolution,  and  the 
predominance  of  the  Indian  interest,  all  this  has  been  changed. 


A    PLAN 

OP    THB 

CITY    AND    LAKES 


MEXICO. 


Note.    The  reader  is  desired  to  refer  to  the  description  of  the  city  and  lakes  at 
page  111,  in  connexion  with  the  above  Plan. 


43 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  335 


CHAPTER  VI. 

During  all  these  seventy-five  days  of  the  siege,  not 
one  passed  on  which  there  was  not  some  fighting, 
more  or  less,  with  the  Mexicans.  On  the  day  of  the 
capture  of  Guautimucin  and  fall  of  the  city,  after  having 
collected  what  spoil  we  could  find,  we  returned  to  our 
camp,  giving  thanks  to  our  Lord  for  so  signal  a  reward, 
and  so  desirable  a  victory,  as  he  had  granted  us.  I  con- 
tinued three  or  four  days  in  camp,  for  the  purpose  of 
adjusting  matters  that  required  my  attention,  and  after- 
wards we  came  to  the  city  of  Cuyoacan,  where  I  have 
remained  till  the  present  time,  employed  in  regulating 
the  government  and  reducing  the  people  in  all  these 
countries  to  a  condition  of  settled  peace. 

Having  collected  the  gold  and  other  articles  of  value, 
the  former  was  melted  down  by  the  advice  of  your  Ma- 
jesty's officials,  and  amounted  to  about  130,000  castella- 
nos,  of  which  one  fifth  part  was  given  to  the  treasurer 
of  your  Majesty  ;  but  the  fifth  of  other  rights  pertaining 
to  your  Majesty,  as  slaves,  &c,  will  appear  more  at 
length  in  the  general  account  of  what  is  due  to  your 
Majesty,  which  will  be  forwarded,,  signed  with  our  names. 
The  remainder  of  the  gold  was  divided  amongst  myself 
and  the  Spaniards,  according  to  the  rank,  services,  and 
standing  of  each.  Besides  this  gold,  there  were  certain 
utensils  and  jewels  of  the  same  metal,  and  of  the  best 
of  these  one  fifth  part  was  given  to  your  Majesty's  trea- 
surer. Among  the  spoils  obtained  in  the  city  were  many 
shields  of  gold,  plumes,  panaches,  and  other  articles,  of 


336  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

so  wonderful  a  character  that  language  will  not  convey 
an  idea  of  them,  nor  could  a  correct  conception  be 
formed  of  their  rare  excellence  without  seeing  them. 
These,  it  appeared  to  me,  ought  not  to  be  divided  into 
fifths  or  distributed,  but  the  whole  presented  to  your  Ma- 
jesty ;  for  this  purpose  I  called  together  all  the  Spaniards 
and  asked  them  to  consent  that  the  parts  which  might 
fall  to  them  and  to  me  should  be  offered  to  your  Majesty ; 
and  they  were  pleased  and  most  willing  to  make  such  a 
disposition  of  the  articles.  So  we  sent  the  offering  to 
your  Majesty  by  the  agents  whom  the  council  of  this 
New  Spain  had  deputed. 

As  the  city  of  Temixtitan  was  so  distinguished  and 
well  known  throughout  this  part  of  the  world,  it  appears 
that  it  had  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  cacique  of  a 
very  extensive  province,  seventy  leagues  from  Temix- 
titan, called  Mechuacan,*  that  we  had  destroyed  and 
razed  it  to  the  ground ;  and  considering  the  greatness 
and  strength  of  that  city,  it  occurred  to  the  cacique  of 
this  province,  that  since  it  had  been  unable  to  protect 
itself  against  us,  nothing  could  withstand  us.  So  from 
fear,  or  because  it  pleased  him,  he  sent  messengers  to 
me,  who  on  his  behalf,  by  means  of  interpreters  of  their 
language,  informed  me  that  their  lord  had  heard  we  were 
the  subjects  of  a  great  prince,  and  that  if  I  was  willing, 
both  he  and  his  subjects  would  also  like  to  become  so, 
and  to  form  a  firm  alliance  with  us.  I  answered  them,  that 
it  was  true  we  were  all  subjects  of  a  great  prince,  who 
was  your  Majesty,  and  that  we  should  make  war  on  all 
who  refused  his  allegiance  ;  and  that  their  lord  and  them- 
selves had  done  well  in  this  matter.     As  I  a  short  time 

*  Now  the  department  of  Michoacan,  west  of  the  city  of  Mexico,  bordering  on 
the  Pacific  Ocean. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  337 

before  had  received  some  information  concerning  the 
South  Sea.  I  inquired  of  them  whether  it  could  be 
reached  by  going  through  their  country  ;  they  answered, 
yes  ;  and  I  then  asked  them  if  they  would  take  along 
with  them  two  Spaniards  that  I  should  send  for  the  pur- 
pose of  obtaining  information  for  your  Majesty  respecting 
that  sea  and  their  province  ;  they  replied  that  it  would 
give  them  great  pleasure,  but  that  in  order  to  go  to  the 
sea  it  would  be  necessary  to  enter  the  territory  of  a  great 
lord  with  whom  they  were  at  war ;  and  that  for  this 
reason  they  would  not  now  be  able  to  reach  the  sea. 
These  messengers  of  Mechuacan  remained  with  me  here 
three  or  four  days  ;  and  I  caused  the  cavalry  to  manoeu- 
vre before  them,  that  they  might  describe  it  at  home. 
Having  presented  them  with  some  trinkets,  I  despatched 
them  and  the  two  Spaniards  to  the  province  of  Mechua- 
can. 

I  had  received  not  long  before,  most  powerful  Sire,  as 
I  have  already  mentioned,  some  account  of  another  sea 
to  the  south,  and  learned  that  at  two  or  three  points  it 
was  twelve,  thirteen,  and  fourteen  days'  journey  distant 
from  this  city.  The  information  gave  me  much  pleasure, 
for  it  appeared  to  me  that  the  discovery  would  prove  a 
great  and  signal  service  to  your  Majesty  ;  especially  as 
all  who  possess  any  knowledge  or  experience  in  naviga- 
tion to  the  Indies  have  considered  it  certain  that  the  dis- 
covery of  the  South  Sea  in  these  parts  would  bring  to 
light  many  islands  rich  in  gold,  pearls,  precious  stones, 
and  spiceries,  together  with  many  other  unknown  and 
choice  productions  ;  and  the  same  has  been  affirmed  also 
by  persons  versed  in  learning,  and  skilled  in  the  science 
of  cosmography.  With  such  views,  and  a  desire  that  I 
might  be  able  to  render  your  Majesty  a  distinguished  and 


338  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

memorable  service  in  this  matter,  I  despatched  four 
Spaniards,  two  by  one  route  and  two  by  another,  who 
having    obtained  the  necessary   information  as  to  the 
course  they  were  to  take,  set  out,  accompanied  by  several 
of  our  allies  as  guides  and  companions.     I  ordered  them 
not  to  stop  till  they  had  reached  the  sea ;  and  when  they 
discovered  it  to  take  actual  and  corporal  possession  in 
the  name  of  your  Majesty.     One  of  these  parties  travelled 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty  leagues,  through  many  fine 
provinces,  without  encountering  any  obstacles,  and  ar- 
rived at  the  sea,  of  which  they  took  possession,  and  in 
token  thereof  set  up  crosses  along  the  coast.     After  some 
days  they  returned  with  an  account  of  their  discovery, 
and  informed  me  very  particularly  concerning  it ;  they 
brought  with  them  several  of  the    natives  from  that 
quarter,  together  with  good  specimens  of  gold  from  the 
mines  found  in  the  provinces  through  which  they  passed, 
which  with  other  specimens  I  now  send  to  your  Majesty. 
The  other  party  were  absent  somewhat  longer,  for  they 
took  a  different  course  and  travelled  one  hundred  and 
fifty  leagues  before  they  reached  the  sea,  of  which  they 
also  took  possession,  and  brought  me  a  full  account  of 
the  coast  with  some  of  the  natives  of  the  country.     I 
received  the  strangers  in  both  parties  graciously,  and 
having  informed  them   of  the  great  power  of  your  Ma- 
jesty and  made  them  some  presents,  I  suffered  them  to 
depart  on  their  return  to  their  own  country,  and  they 
went  away  much  gratified. 

In  my  former  relation,  most  Catholic  Sire,  I  informed 
your  Majesty  that  at  the  time  when  the  Indians  defeated 
me,  and  first  drove  us  out  of  the  city  of  Temixtitan,  all 
the  provinces  subject  to  that  city  rebelled  against  your 
Majesty  and  made  war  upon  us  ;  and  your  Majesty  will 


CONQUEST   OF    MEXICO.  339 

see  by  this  relation  how  we  have  reduced  to  his  royal 
service  most  of  the  provinces  that  proved  rebellious. 
There  are  certain  provinces  situated  at  distances  of  ten, 
fifteen,  and  thirty  leagues  from  the  coast  of  the  North 
Sea,*  which  rebelled  at  the  same  time  as  Temixtitan, 
and  their  people  treacherously  put  to  death  more  than  a 
hundred  Spaniards  while  in  a  state  of  fancied  security. 
But  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  punish  them  until  the 
war  with  the  city  had  been  brought  to  a  close.  After 
the  return  of  the  exploring  parties  from  the  South  Sea, 
I  determined  to  send  Gonzalo  de  Sandoval,  alguazil 
mayor,  with  a  detachment  of  thirty-five  horse  and  two 
hundred  Spanish  foot,  accompanied  by  our  allies,  and 
some  of  the  noble  natives  of  Temixtitan,  to  those  pro- 
vinces named  Tatactetelco,  Tuxtepeque,  Guatusco,  and 
Aulicaba ;  and  when  I  had  given  him  instructions  as  to 
his  mode  of  procedure  in  this  expedition,  he  began  his 
preparations  for  carrying  them  into  effect. 

At  this  time  the  deputy  I  had  left  in  the  town  of  Se- 
gura  de  la  Frontera,  in  the  province  of  Tepeaca,  came 
to  the  city  of  Cuyoacan,  and  informed  me  that  the  natives 
of  that  province  and  others  adjacent  to  it,  vassals  of  your 
Majesty,  had  sustained  some  injury  from  the  people  of 
another  province  called  Guaxacaque,  [Oaxaca,]  who  had 
made  war  upon  them  because  they  were  in  alliance  with 
us ;  and  that  besides  the  necessity  of  redressing  this 
wrong,  it  was  a  matter  of  great  importance  to  reduce 
that  province  of  Guaxacaque,  from  its  being  on  the  route 
to  the  South  Sea,  and  for  other  reasons  that  I  shall  here- 
after state  to  your  Majesty.  The  deputy  added,  that  he 
was  well  informed  respecting  the  condition  of  that  pro- 
vince, and  would  be  able  to  subdue  it  with  a  small  force ; 

*  The  Gulf  of  Mexico. 


340  LETTERS    OP    CORTES. 

for  while  I  was  encamped  near  Temixtitan,  he  had  gone 
there  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  Tepeacans,  who 
wished  him  to  make  war  upon  it,  but  as  he  had  not 
taken  with  him  more  than  twenty  or  thirty  Spanish  sol- 
diers, they  caused  him  to  return,  though  no  sooner  than 
he  wished.  On  hearing  this  account,  I  gave  the  deputy 
a  force  of  twelve  horse  and  eighty  Spanish  foot ;  and  in 
company  with  the  alguazil  mayor  he  left  Cuyoacan  on 
the  30th  of  October,  1521.  When  they  reached  the  pro- 
vince of  Tepeaca  they  there  reviewed  the  troops  ;  after 
which  each  party  proceeded  on  its  own  destination. 
Twenty-five  days  after,  the  alguazil  mayor  wrote  me 
that  he  had  arrived  in  the  province  of  Guatusco,  and 
although  he  had  feared  a  serious  conflict  with  the  enemy, 
who  were  skilful  in  war  and  had  many  fortresses  in  their 
country,  it  pleased  our  Lord  that  they  should  meet  with 
a  peaceful  reception  ;  that  although  he  had  not  reached 
the  other  provinces,  he  felt  assured  that  all  of  them  would 
yield  subjection  as  vassals  of  your  Majesty.  Fifteen 
days  later  I  received  other  letters  from  him  informing 
me  of  his  farther  progress,  and  that  the  whole  country 
was  at  peace  ;  and  that  it  appeared  to  him  necessary,  in 
order  to  keep  it  in  a  state  of  security,  to  plant  colonies 
in  it,  as  we  had  some  time  before  talked  of  doing,  and 
recommending  to  me  to  take  measures  for  this  purpose. 
I  wrote  to  him,  thanking  him  much  for  his  labors  in  that 
expedition  to  promote  your  Majesty's  service  ;  and  I  ex- 
pressed my  approbation  of  what  he  had  said  in  favor  of 
colonizing  the  country,  desiring  him  to  establish  a  Spanish 
town  in  the  province  of  Tuxtebeque,  and  to  give  it  the 
name  of  Medellin  ;*  and  I  sent  him  a  list  of  persons  for 
alcaldes,  regidores  and  other  officials,  whom  I  enjoined 

*  The  name  of  the  native  town  of  both  Cortes  and  Sandoval. 


CONQUEST   OF    MEXICO.  341 

to  look  carefully  after  the  interests  of  your  Majesty  and 
the  kind  treatment  of  the  natives. 

The  deputy  of  the  town  of  Segura  de  la  Frontera  pro- 
ceeded to  the  province  of  Guaxaca,  having  besides  his 
own  force  a  large  body  of  warriors  of  the  neighboring 
region,  our  allies  ;  and  although  the  people  of  that  pro- 
vince made  some  resistance,  fighting  bravely  on  two  or 
three  occasions,  they  finally  sued  for  peace,  without  hav- 
ing suffered  any  loss.  I  received  from  him  a  particular 
account  of  all  that  had  occurred,  and  information  that 
the  country  was  rich,  and  abounded  in  mines  ;  a  very 
remarkable  specimen  of  gold  procured  from  them,  which 
he  sent  to  me,  I  transmit  to  your  Majesty.  The  deputy 
remained  in  the  province  for  the  purpose  of  executing  the 
orders  I  should  send  him. 

Having  ordered  these  two  conquests,  and  witnessed 
the  success  that  crowned  our  exertions  in  that  quarter ; 
and  seeing  that  I  had  already  established  these  Spanish 
towns,  while  there  yet  remained  with  me  at  Cuyoacan  a 
goodly  number  of  our  countrymen,  I  consulted  with  them 
about  a  site  for  another  colony  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  lakes,  which  was  necessary  for  the  safety  and  tran- 
quillity of  all  this  region.  As  the  city  of  Temixtitan 
was  a  place  of  great  celebrity  and  distinction,  and  ever 
memorable,  it  appeared  to  me  that  it  would  be  well  to 
build  another  town  upon  its  ruins ;  I  therefore  distribu- 
ted the  ground  amongst  the  proposed  inhabitants,  and 
appointed  alcaldes  and  regidores  in  the  name  of  your 
Majesty,  according  to  the  custom  of  your  realms ;  and 
while  the  houses  were  going  up,  we  determined  to  abide 
in  this  city  of  Cuyoacan,  where  we  at  present  are.  It  is 
now  four  or  five  months  since  the  rebuilding  of  the  city 
was  commenced,  and  it  is  already  very  handsome  ;  and 

44 


342  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

your  Majesty  may  be  assured  that  it  will  go  on  increas- 
ing to  such  a  degree  that,  as  it  was  formerly  the  capital 
and  mistress  of  all  these  provinces,  it  will  still  be  so 
hereafter.  It  is  built  so  far,  and  will  be  completed,  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  render  the  Spaniards  strong  and 
secure,  greatly  superior  to  the  natives,  and  wholly  un- 
assailable by  them. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  cacique  of  the  province  of  Teco- 
antepeque,  situated  towards  the  South  Sea,  which  the 
two  Spaniards  explored,  sent  to  me  certain  chiefs  by 
whom  he  offered  himself  as  a  vassal  of  your  Majesty, 
and  at  the  same  time  sent  presents  of  jewels  and  pieces 
of  gold,  and  feathered  ornaments,  all  which' were  de- 
livered to  the  treasurer  of  your  Majesty.  I  thanked  the 
messengers  for  what  they  had  declared  on  the  part  of 
their  lord,  and  gave  them  a  number  of  things,  which 
they  took  and  returned  much  pleased  to  their  own  coun- 
try. 

There  also  arrived  at  this  time  the  two  Spaniards  who 
had  gone  to  the  province  of  Mechuacan,  through  which, 
as  the  messengers  sent  by  the  cacique  had  reported,  one 
route  lay  to  the  South  Sea,  except  that  it  also  led  across 
the  territory  of  another  cacique  who  was  his  enemy. 
With  these  Spaniards  came  a  brother  of  the  cacique  of 
Mechuacan,  and  several  other  nobles,  attended  by  a  reti- 
nue of  more  than  a  thousand  servants,  whom  I  received 
with  many  marks  of  regard.  They  brought  me  for  your 
Majesty  on  the  part  of  the  cacique  of  the  province  called 
Calcucin,  a  present  of  silver  shields,  that  weighed  many 
marks,*  and  numerous  other  articles,  which  were  deliv- 
ered to  the  treasurer  of  your  Majesty.  In  order  that 
they  might  see  our  mode  of  manoeuvring,  and  report  it 

*  A  mark  weighs  eight  ounces — hence  called  apiece  of  eight. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  343 

to  their  cacique,  I  caused  all  the  cavalry  to  parade  on 
the  square,  and  run  and  skirmish  before  them  ;  the  in- 
fantry also  marched  out  in  order,  and  the  musketeers 
discharged  their  pieces  ;  at  the  same  time,  the  artillery 
fired  at  a  tower,  and  the  natives  were  astonished  to  see 
the  effect  produced,  as  well  as  by  the  running  of  the 
horses.  I  then  took  them  to  survey  the  desolate  ruins  of 
the  city  of  Temixtitan,  and  they  were  surprised  on  be- 
holding the  strength  with  which  it  had  been  built,  with 
its  fortresses,  situated  as  it  was  in  the  midst  of  the  water. 
After  four  or  five  days,  when  I  had  given  them  many 
things  for  their  cacique,  such  as  were  most  prized  by 
them,  and  also  for  themselves,  they  departed  much 
pleased  with  their  visit. 

I  have  already  given  your  Majesty  an  account  of  the 
river  Panuco,  fifty  or  sixty  leagues  distant  from  Vera 
Cruz  along  the  coast,  to  which  the  ships  of  Francisco  de 
Garay  had  made  several  visits,  when  they  met  with  a 
rude  reception  from  the  natives,  on  account  of  the  bad 
management  of  the  captains  in  trading  with  them.  Sub- 
sequently, when  I  saw  that  there  was  a  deficiency  of 
harbors  along  the  whole  coast  of  the  North  Sea,  and  no 
one  equal  to  that  afforded  by  the  river  in  question,  and 
recollecting  that  some  of  the  natives  had  formerly  come 
to  offer  themselves  as  your  Majesty's  vassals,  who  now 
were  making  war  on  our  allies,  I  determined  to  send 
there  a  captain  with  a  small  force  to  reduce  all  that  pro- 
vince, and  if  the  country  was  suitable  for  a  colony,  to 
establish  one  on  the  river,  in  order  to  secure  the  tranquil- 
lity of  all  that  region.*  Although  we  were  few  in  num- 
ber, our  force  being  scattered  in  three  or  four  different 
directions,  and  on  this  account  I  met  with  opposition  to 

*  Tampico  is  now  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Panueo. 


344  LETTERS  OF  CORTES. 

the  removal  of  any  more  men  ftom  this  post,  yet  in  order 
to  succor  our  allies,  and  because  since  the  city  of  Temix- 
titan  was  taken  ships  had  arrived  and  brought  reinforce- 
ments of  men  and  horses,  I  caused  twenty-five  horse,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  foot,  and  a  captain  to  command  them, 
to  be  in  readiness  for  proceeding  to  that  river. 

While  engaged  in  this  business,  I  received  accounts 
from  Vera  Cruz  of  the  arrival  at  that  fort  of  a  ship  in 
which  came  Cristoval  de  Tapia,  smelting-inspector 
in  the  island  of  Espafiola,  from  whom  I  had  a  letter  the 
next  day,  in  which  he  informed  me  that  the  object  of  his 
coming  to  this  country  was  to  assume  the  government  of 
it  by  your  Majesty's  command,  and  that  he  had  brought 
with  him  his  royal  commission,  which  he  should  no 
where  exhibit  until  he  saw  us,  but  hoped  this  would  be 
soon ;  as,  however,  the  animals  he  had  brought  were 
affected  bv  the  voyage,  he  should  not  set  out  at  present, 
and  begged  we  would  direct  how  the  interview  should 
take  place,  whether  by  his  coming  here,  or  by  going  my- 
self to  the  sea-coast.  As  soon  as  I  had  received  his  let- 
ter, I  answered  it,  saying  that  I  was  much  pleased  with 
his  arrival;  that  no  one  could  come  provided  with  an 
order  from  his  Majesty  to  assume  the  government  of  these 
parts  with  whom  I  should  be  better  pleased,  both  on  ac- 
count of  the  acquaintance  that  existed  between  us,  and 
the  neighborly  intercourse  we  had  enjoyed  together  in 
the  island  of  Espafiola.  Tranquillity  not  being  firmly 
established  in  this  quarter,  and  any  novelty  being  likely 
to  estrange  the  natives,  I  begged  Padre  Fr.  Pedro  Melga- 
rejo  de  Urrea,  Commissary  de  la  Cruzada,  (who  has  been 
present  in  all  my  labors,  and  knew  well  the  situation  of 
affairs  to  the  present  moment,  and  by  whose  coming  your 
Majesty's   service   has   been   promoted,  and   ourselves 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  345 

benefitted  by  his  spiritual  teachings  and  counsels,)  to 
undertake  the  task  of  meeting  the  said  Tapia,  and  exam- 
ining the  orders  of  your  Majesty ;  and  since  he  knew 
better  than  any  one  what  the  royal  interests  required, 
as  well  as  those  of  the  country,  that  he  would  give  such 
directions  to  the  said  Tapia  as  he  deemed  most  proper, 
from  which  he  knew  I  would  not  deviate  in  the  least  de- 
gree. I  made  this  request  in  the  presence  of  your  Ma- 
jesty's treasurer,  who  joined  his  solicitations  to  mine. 
He  accordingly  departed  for  the  town  of  Vera  Cruz, 
where  the  said  Tapia  was  ;  and  in  order  that  suitable 
attentions  might  be  paid  to  the  Inspector,  either  in  the 
town,  or  wherever  they  should  meet,  I  despatched  with 
the  padre  two  or  three  respectable  persons  from  my 
companions,  and  when  they  had  gone  I  waited  the  issue. 
In  the  mean  time,  I  employed  myself  in  regulating  the 
affairs  of  my  command,  and  in  such  a  way  as  best  to 
promote  your  Majesty's  interests,  and  the  peace  and 
security  of  these  parts. 

In  ten  or  twelve  days  after,  the  magistrate  and  muni- 
cipality of  Vera  Cruz  wrote  me,  that  the  said  Tapia  had 
exhibited  the  orders  of  your  Majesty,  and  of  your  gover- 
nors acting  in  the  royal  name,  which  they  had  treated 
with  all  suitable  reverence  ;  but  that  as  to  the  execution 
of  the  orders,  they  had  answered,  that  since  the  most  of 
the  government  were  with  me,  having  been  concerned  in 
the  siege  of  the  city,  they  should  be  informed  of  them,  and 
in  the  mean  time  they  would  do  whatever  the  service  of 
your  Majesty  and  the  good  of  the  country  required  ;  this 
answer,  they  added,  was  received  by  the  said  Tapia 
with  great  displeasure,  and  he  had  since  attempted  some 
scandalous  things.  Although  this  intelligence  occasioned 
me  some  regret,  I  answered  them,  and  begged  and  en- 


346  LETTERS  OF  CORTES. 

treated  that  they  would  look  chiefly  to  the  service  of  your 
Majesty,  and  endeavor  to  content  the  said  Tapia,  giving 
him  no  occasion  for  making  a  disturbance  ;  and  that  I 
was  about  going  to  meet  him,  and  to  comply  with  what- 
ever your  Majesty  commanded,  and  the  most  your  ser- 
vice required.  As  I  was  now  preparing  to  depart,  the 
proposed  expedition  to  the  river  Panuco  was  suspended, 
since  it  was  necessary  to  leave  a  strong  force  here  during 
my  absence ;  but  the  members  of  the  Council  of  New 
Spain  entreated  me  with  many  protestations  not  to  go,  as 
all  this  province  of  Mexico  and  Temixtitan,  having  been 
but  a  short  time  reduced,  might  revolt  in  my  absence, 
whence  much  injury  would  be  done  to  your  Majesty's 
service,  and  great  disturbance  caused  in  the  country. 
They  also  urged  many  other  arguments  and  reasons  why 
it  was  inexpedient  for  me  to  leave  this  city  at  present ; 
and  added,  that  they  with  the  authority  of  the  Council 
would  go  to  Vera  Cruz,  where  the  said  Tapia  resided, 
examine  the  orders  of  your  Majesty,  and  perform  all  that 
the  royal  service  demanded.  As  it  seemed  so  essential 
to  our  safety  that  the  said  counsellors  should  go,  I  wrote 
by  them  to  Tapia,  informing  him  of  what  had  passed, 
and  that  I  had  authorised  Gonzalo  de  Sandoval,  alguazil 
mayor,  Diego  de  Soto,  and  Diego  de  Valdenebro,  who 
were  there  in  the  town  of  Vera  Cruz,  jointly  with  the 
Council  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  members  of  the  other 
town  councils,  to  see  and  perform  whatever  the  service 
of  your  Majesty,  and  the  good  of  the  country  required  ; 
for  that  they  were,  and  still  are,  the  persons  whose  duty 
it  was  to  execute  such  orders. 

When  they  reached  the  place  where  the  said  Tapia 
was,  who  had  already  set  out  on  his  journey  to  this  city, 
accompanied  by  the  Padre  Fr.  Pedro,  they  requested  him 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  347 

to  return,  and  they  all  went  together  to  the  city  of  Cem- 
pual,  where  Cristobal  de  Tapia  presented  your  Majesty's 
orders,  which  all  received  with  the  respect  due  to  your 
Majesty.  In  regard  to  their  execution,  they  said  that 
they  asked  some  delay  of  your  Majesty,  as  demanded  by 
the  royal  interests,  for  causes  and  reasons  contained  in 
their  petition,  and  more  fully  set  forth  therein  ;  which  the 
deputies  from  New  Spain  carried,  signed  by  a  public 
notary.  After  some  other  acts  and  proceedings  between 
the  inspector  and  the  deputies,  he  embarked  in  his  own 
ship,  as  he  had  been  requested  to  do ;  since  from  his  re- 
maining, and  having  published  that  he  had  come  as  go- 
vernor and  captain  of  these  parts,  there  would  have  been 
disturbances ;  the  people  of  Mexico  and  Temixtitan  hav- 
ing designed  in  connexion  with  the  other  natives  of  the 
country  to  revolt,  and  having  plotted  a  great  treason 
which  would  have  been  more  difficult  to  meet  than  the 
former.  The  plan  was  as  follows  :  some  Indians  in  this 
part  of  Mexico  concerted  with  others  in  the  provinces 
which  the  alguazil  mayor  had  gone  to  reduce,  that  they 
should  come  to  me  in  great  haste,  and  report "  that  twenty 
ships  with  many  people  had  arrived  on  the  coast,  but  had 
not  come  into  the  harbor  ;  and  that  as  they  could  not  be 
friendly,  if  I  would  go  and  ascertain  what  they  were,  they 
would  put  themselves  in  readiness,  and  engage  in  the 
war  as  my  auxiliaries"  ;  and  for  the  purpose  of  creating 
belief  in  their  account,  they  brought  me  a  representation 
of  the  ships  on  paper.  As  they  had  sent  me  this  infor- 
mation secretly,  I  immediately  knew  their  motive,  which 
was  bad,  and  that  it  was  a  plan  to  get  me  out  of  this  pro- 
vince ;  for  some  of  their  principal  persons  had  known 
several  days  before  my  intention  to  go,  but  finding  that  I 
remained,  they  had  sought  this  mode  of  inducing  me  to 


348  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

depart.  At  first  I  pretended  not  to  know  their  design, 
but  afterwards  I  apprehended  some  of  those  who  had 
been  concerned  in  it.  In  this  way  the  coming  of  the  said 
Tapia,  and  his  want  of  knowledge  respecting  the  country 
and  its  inhabitants,  excited  sedition,  and  his  stay  would 
have  led  to  serious  evils,  if  God  had  not  interposed  to 
prevent  it.  Much  greater  service  would  have  been  ren- 
dered to  your  Majesty,  if,  while  he  was  in  the  island  of 
Espanola,  instead  of  coming  hither,  he  had  first  advised 
with  your  Majesty,  after  informing  you  of  the  situation  of 
affairs  in  this  country,  which  he  had  learned  from  the 
ships  I  had  sent  to  that  island  for  succors ;  and  he  had 
also  known  well  the  discomfiture  of  the  mischievous  de- 
signs that  prompted  the  expedition  of  Panfilo  de  Narvaez, 
which  had  been  chiefly  set  on  foot  by  the  governors  and 
royal  council  of  your  Majesty.  But  what  is  of  greater 
moment,  the  said  Tapia  had  been  often  advised  by  the 
admiral,  judges,  and  other  officials  of  your  Majesty,  re- 
siding in  the  island  of  Espanola,  not  to  come  into  these 
parts  until  your  Majesty  had  first  been  informed  of  all 
that  had  taken  place  here  ;  and  on  this  account  they  had 
prohibited  his  coming  under  certain  penalties ;  which 
prohibition,  however,  by  means  in  his  power,  looking 
more  at  his  individual  interest  than  the  service  of  your 
Majesty,  he  had  succeeded  in  getting  removed.  I  have 
prepared  this  account  of  every  thing  in  relation  to  this 
matter  for  your  Majesty,  because,  when  the  said  Tapia 
departed,  neither  the  deputies  nor  myself  drew  up  any 
statement,  as  he  would  not  have  been  a  suitable  bearer 
of  our  letters  ;  and  also  that  your  Majesty  may  see  and 
believe,  that  by  not  receiving  the  said  Tapia,  your  Majesty 
was  well  served,  as  will  be  more  fully  established  when- 
ever it  shall  be  necessary. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  349 

In  a  former  part  of  this  relation,  I  informed  your  Ma- 
jesty that  the  captain  whom  I  sent  to  conquer  the  province 
of  Guaxaca,  had  succeeded  in  reducing  it  to  subjection, 
and  was  waiting  there  for  further  orders  from  me ;  and 
since  there  was  need  of  his  presence  elsewhere,  on  ac- 
count of  his  being  alcalde  and  deputy  of  the  town  of  Se- 
gura  la  Frontera,  I  wrote  him  to  deliver  the  men  and 
horse  under  his  command  to  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  whom 
I  had  sent  to  conquer  the  province  of  Tatutepeque,*  which 
is  forty  leagues  beyond  Guaxaca,  adjoining  the  sea, 
whose  inhabitants  had  waged  a  mischievous  war  against 
those  provinces  that  professed  allegiance  to  your  Majesty, 
and  also  against  the  province  of  Tecoatepeque,  because 
we  had  been  allowed  to  pass  through  its  territory  for  the 
purpose  of  discovering  the  South  Sea.  Pedro  de  Alva- 
rado left  this  city  on  the  last  of  January  of  the  present 
year,  [1522,]  and  with  the  men  he  took  from  here,  and 
those  that  joined  him  in  Guaxaca,  his  whole  force  amount- 
ed to  forty  horse  and  two  hundred  foot,  including  forty 
archers  and  musketeers,  and  two  small  field  pieces.  In 
twenty  days  from  the  time  of  his  departure,  I  received  a 
letter  from  him  while  on  his  route  to  the  province  of  Ta- 
tutepeque, in  which  he  informed  me  that  he  had  taken 
certain  spies,  natives  of  that  province,  who,  on  being 
questioned,  said  that  the  cacique  of  Tatutepeque  with  his 
people  was  expecting  him  in  the  field.  He  also  stated  that 
he  was  going  with  the  determination  to  do  the  utmost  in  his 
power  to  reduce  that  province,  for  which  end  he  had  with 
him  besides  the  Spaniards  a  large  and  effective  force  of  na- 
tive troops.  While  waiting  with  much  anxiety  the  success 
of  this  expedition,  on  the  fourth  of  March  in  the  same  year, 

*  Tuxtepeque,  in  Guatemala. 

45 


350  LETTERS   OF   CORTES. 

I  received  letters  from  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  in  which  he  in- 
formed me  that  he  had  entered  the  province ;  that  three 
or  four  towns  in  it  had  attempted  some  resistance,  but  did 
not  hold  out,  and  he  had  gone  to  the  town  and  city  of 
Tatutepeque,  where  he  was  well  received,  so  far  as  ap- 
peared ;  that  the  cacique  had  desired  him  to  lodge  in 
some  of  his  large  houses  with  thatched  roofs,  but  the 
situation  being  inconvenient  for  the  cavalry,  they  had 
sought  another  in  a  lower  part  of  the  city,  which  was 
more  level ;  that  he  had  also  made  this  change  for  an- 
other cause,  having  received  an  intimation  that  they  had 
planned  to  destroy  him  and  his  whole  party  by  setting 
fire  to  the  houses  in  which  all  the  Spaniards  were  lodged, 
in  the  middle  of  the  night,  and  burning  them  to  death. 
God  having  revealed  this  plot  to  him,  he  had  dissembled 
his  knowledge  of  it,  and  took  with  him  to  the  lower  situa- 
tion the  cacique  of  the  province  and  his  son,  whom  he 
had  detained,  and  still  kept  in  his  power  as  prisoners; 
that  they  had  given  him  25,000  castellanos,  and  he  be- 
lieved, as  informed  by  the  vassals  of  the  cacique,  that  he 
possessed  much  treasure ;  that  all  the  province  was  as 
tranquil  as  possible,  and  the  markets  and  places  of  busi- 
ness were  open  as  usual ;  that  the  country  was  rich  in 
gold  mines,  and  in  his  presence  they  had  taken  out  a  spe- 
cimen, which  he  sent  to  me  ;  and  that  three  days  before 
he  had  been  to  the  sea,  and  taken  possession  of  it  for  your 
Majesty,  from  which  in  his  presence  they  had  obtained 
a  specimen  of  pearls,  which  he  also  sent  me,  and  which 
together  with  the  gold  I  transmit  to  your  Majesty. 

As  God  our  Lord  had  prospered  this  expedition,  and 
was  about  to  filfil  the  desire  I  had  of  serving  your  Ma- 
jesty on  this  South  Sea,  a  matter  of  deep  importance,  I 
made  active  arrangements  for  the  construction  of  two 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  351 

caravels  of  moderate  capacity,  and  two  brigantines,  at 
one  of  the  three  points  where  I  had  discovered  the  sea ; 
the  caravels  for  voyages  of  discovery,  and  the  brigantines 
for  coasting.  For  this  purpose  I  despatched  thither  under 
the  charge  of  a  discreet  person  full  forty  Spaniards, 
amongst  whom  were  master-workmen,  ship-carpenters, 
sawyers,  smiths,  and  seamen  ;  and  I  had  procured  from 
the  town  [Vera  Cruz]  a  supply  of  nails,  sails,  and  other 
necessary  articles  for  the  vessels ;  I  also  directed  the 
greatest  possible  haste  to  be.  made  in  finishing  and  launch- 
ing them.  When  this  is  accomplished,  your  Majesty  may 
be  assured  it  will  be  the  greatest  achievement,  and  the 
one  that  will  redound  more  to  the  service  of  your  Majesty 
than  any  thing  since  the  discovery  of  the  Indies. 

While  in  the  city  of  Tesaico  before  going  to  besiege 
the  city  of  Temixtitan,  and  in  the  midst  of  our  prepara- 
tions for  that  enterprise,  without  attending  to  the  move- 
ments of  individuals,  there  came  to  me  one  of  a  band  of 
conspirators  with  the  disclosure,  that  certain  friends  of 
Diego  Velazquez  amongst  my  followers  had  plotted  to 
take  my  life,  and  that  they  had  chosen  from  their  number 
a  captain,  alcalde  mayor,  alguazil,  and  other  officials. 
I  saw  at  once  the  necessity  of  taking  measures  to  arrest 
this  movement,  for  besides  the  mischief  that  would  fol- 
low from  my  death,  not  a  Spaniard  would  escape  when 
we  should  be  seen  at  variance  with  one  another  ;  for  we 
should  find  not  only  the  enemy  acting  against  us,  but 
even  those  who  had  been  our  allies  laboring  for  our  de- 
struction. When  I  perceived  the  enormity  of  these 
treasonable  designs,  I  gave  thanks  to  our  Lord,  for  to 
that  our  safety  is  to  be  attributed.  I  immediately  caused 
one  who  was  the  principal  aggressor  to  be  apprehended, 
who  voluntarily  confessed  that  he  had  planned  in  con-* 


§52  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

cert  with  a  number  of  persons,  whom  he  mentioned  in 
his  confession,  to  seize  and  kill  me,  and  assume  the  go- 
vernment of  the  country  for  Diego  Velazquez  ;  that  it 
was  actually  proposed  to  appoint  a  captain  and  an 
alcalde  mayor,  and  that  he  himself  was  to  have  been 
alguazil  mayor  and  to  seize  me  and  put  me  to  death ; 
that  many  persons  were  implicated  in  the  plot,  whose 
names  were  contained  in  a  list  found  in  his  quarters, 
though  torn  in  pieces  ;  and  that  not  only  at  Tesaico,  but 
also  during  the  war  in  the  province  of  Tepeaca,  these 
treasonable  designs  had  been  agitated  and  planned. 
When  I  heard  the  confession  of  this  man,  whose  name 
was  Antonio  de  Villafana,  a  native  of  Zamora,  as  his 
guilt  was  proved  by  his  own  confession,  an  alcalde 
and  myself  condemned  him  to  suffer  death,  which  sen- 
tence was  accordingly  carried  into  effect.  Although  we 
found  others  were  implicated  in  this  affair,  I  dissembled 
with  them,  treating  them  as  friends ;  and  as  I  was  per- 
sonally concerned,  although  your  Majesty's  interests 
were  more  properly  involved,  I  did  not  wish  to  proceed 
rigorously  against  them.  This  lenity,  however,  did  not 
prove  of  much  advantage  ;  since  from  that  time  to  this, 
the  partizans  of  Diego  Velazquez  have  laid  many  snares 
for  me,  and  secretly  committed  many  scandalous  out- 
rages, so  that  I  was  obliged  to  be  more  on  my  guard 
against  them  than  even  our  enemies.  But  God  our  Lord 
has  ever  guided  us  to  such  a  course,  that  without  resort- 
ing to  punishment  we  have  been  able  to  maintain  peace 
and  tranquillity ;  and  should  I  hereafter  perceive  any 
other  demonstrations  of  a  similar  kind,  I  shall  visit  it 
with  a  punishment  conformable  to  justice. 

After  the  fall  of  the  city  of  Temixtitan,  since  my  resi- 
dence at  Cuyoacan,  Don  Fernando,  cacique  of  Tesaico, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  S53 

died  ;  an  event  deeply  lamented  by  us  all,  for  he.  was  a 
good  subject  of  your  Majesty,  and  a  great  friend  to  the 
Christians.  His  younger  brother  who  was  baptized,  and 
had  assumed  the  name  of  Don  Carlos,  succeeded  him 
in  the  caciqueship,  in  your  Majesty's  name,  with  the  ap- 
probation of  the  nobles  and  principal  persons  of  that  city 
and  province  ;  and  so  far  as  is  known  to  the  present 
time,  he  follows  in  the  footsteps  of  his  brother,  and  takes 
much  pleasure  in  conforming  to  our  habits  and  mode  of 
life. 

In  my  former  relation  I  informed  your  Majesty  that 
near  the  provinces  of  Tlascala  and  Guajocingo,  there  is 
a  conical  mountain  of  great  height,  from  which  smoke 
issues  almost  continually,  and  mounts  in  a  straight 
column  like  an  arrow.*  As  the  Indians  told  us  it  was 
dangerous  to  ascend  this  mountain,  and  fatal  to  those 
who  made  the  attempt,  I  caused  several  Spaniards  to 
undertake  it,  and  examine  the  character  of  the  sum- 
mit. At  the  time  they  went  up,  so  much  smoke  pro- 
ceeded from  it,  accompanied  by  loud  noises,  that  they 
were  either  unable  or  afraid  to  reach  its  mouth.  After- 
wards I  sent  up  some  other  Spaniards,  who  made  two 
attempts,  and  finally  reached  the  aperture  of  the  moun- 
tain whence  the  smoke  issued,  which  was  two  bow-shots 
wide,  and  about  three-fourths  of  a  league  in  circumfer- 
ence ;  and  they  discovered  some  sulphur  around  it, 
which  the  smoke  deposited.  During  one  of  their  visits 
they  heard  a  tremendous  noise,  followed  by  smoke, 
when  they  made  haste  to  descend,  but  before  they 
reached  the  middle  of  the  mountain  there  fell  around 
them  a  heavy  shower  of  stones,  from  which  they  were 

*  Popocatepetl. 


354  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

in  no  little  danger.     The  Indians  considered  it  a  very 
great  undertaking  to  go  where  the  Spaniards  had  been. 

I  have  informed  your  Majesty  in  my  letter,  that  the 
natives  of  these  parts  possessed  more  capacity  than  those 
of  the  other  islands,*  appearing  to  us  to  have  as  much 
understanding  and  intelligence  as  persons  not  above  me- 
diocrity ;  and  for  this  reason  it  seemed  to  me  a  serious 
matter  to  compel  them  to  serve  the  Spaniards  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  natives  of  those  islands,  although  with- 
out their  services  the  conquerors  and  settlers  here  would 
not  be  able  to  sustain  life.  In  order  to  impose  no  con- 
straint on  the  Indians,  and  that  the  Spaniards  may  have 
some  compensation  for  being  deprived  of  their  services, 
it  seems  to  me  that  your  Majesty  should  command  the 
rents  that  pertain  to  your  Majesty  to  be  applied  in  part 
to  their  expenses  and  support ;  and  on  this  head  such 
provision  should  be  made  as  would  best  subserve  the 
service,  as  I  shall  more  fully  inform  your  Majesty.  See- 
ing the  many  and  constant  expenses  of  your  Majesty  up 
to  this  time,  and  that  we  ought  to  increase  the  rents  by 
every  means  before  we  add  to  them ;  and  seeing  also 
the  great  length  of  time  that  we  have  been  engaged  in 
these  wars,  and  the  wants  and  necessities  to  which  we 
have  all  been  exposed,  and  the  delay  that  must  arise  be- 
fore the  commands  of  your  Majesty  are  known  ;  and 
above  all,  considering  the  great  importunity  of  your  Ma- 
jesty's officials  and  all  the  Spaniards,  and  the  impossi- 
bility of  excusing  myself  to  them,  I  was  almost  compelled 
to  place  the  caciques  and  natives  of  the  country  in  the 
bands  of  the  Spaniards,  on  account  of  the  services  they 
have  rendered  your  Majesty  here  ;  and  in  the  mean 
time  some  other  arrangement  may  be  hereafter  made,  or 

*  "Las  otras  islas." 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  355 

this  confirmed,  that  the  said  caciques  and  natives  may- 
serve,  and  yield  to  every  Spaniard  to  whose  hands  they 
are  committed  what  is  necessary  for  his  support.  This 
plan  was  adopted  with  the  advice  of  persons  who  had 
and  still  possess  much  intelligence  and  experience  in  this 
country ;  a  better  could  not  be  pursued,  either  for  the 
support  of  the  Spaniards,  or  the  preservation  and  kind 
treatment  of  the  Indians,  as  will  more  fully  appear  in  the 
reports  of  the  deputies  that  go  from  New  Spain  to  your 
Majesty.  Instead  of  rents  of  farms  and  lands  your 
Majesty  will  possess  the  revenues  of  provinces  and  cities 
which  are  better  and  more  convenient.  I  beg  your  Ma- 
jesty to  command  such  a  provision  to  be  made  as  may 
most  promote  your  Majesty's  service. 

Most  Catholic  Sire,  God  our  Lord  preserve  and  aug- 
ment the  life  and  very  royal  person  and  powerful  state 
of  your  Imperial  Majesty  with  an  increase  of  as  much 
greater  realms  and  seignories  as  your  royal  heart  may 
desire.  From  the  city  of  Cuyoacan,  in  this  New  Spain 
of  the  Ocean-sea,  the  fifteenth  of  May,  1522. 

Most  Powerful  Sire,  the  very  humble  servant  and  vas- 
sal of  your  Imperial  Majesty,  who  kisses  the  very  royal 
feet  and  hands  of  your  Majesty. 

HERNANDO  CORTES. 


LETTER  IV. 
THE    FOURTH     RELATION 

SENT   BT 

FERNANDO  CORTES, 


GOVERNOR   AND   CAPTAIN-GENERAL   FOR   HIS   MAJESTY    IN   NEW   SPAIN   OF  THE 
OCEAN-SEA, 


MOST  NOBLE  AND  POWERFUL  LORD  DON  CARLOS, 

THE   AUGUST   EMPEROR   AND   KING   OF   SPAIN; 

Together  with  other  letters  and  relations  from  the  Captains  Pedro  de  Alvarado 
and  Diego  de  Godoy  to  the  said  Fernando  Cortes. 

Printed  at  Toledo,  by  Gaspar  de  Avila ;  finished  October  20th,   1525, 


46 


NOTE.. 

In  the  year  1523,  after  the  receipt  of  his  Third  Letter 
in  Spain,  Cortes  was  at  length  appointed  Governor 
and  Captain-General  of  New  Spain.  This  was  the  first 
commission  he  received  from  the  crown.  In  the  follow- 
ing Letter  he  describes  the  measures  taken  by  him  to  bring 
the  whole  country  into  subjection,  including  the  districts 
which  had  been  independent  of  the  Mexican  empire. 
Various  enterprises  both  of  conquest  and  discovery  were 
set  on  foot,  of  which  he  gives  an  account ;  but  what  seems 
most  to  have  attracted  his  attention  was  the  possibility  of 
discovering  the  supposed  strait  communicating  with  the 
East  Indies,  for  which  Columbus  sought  with  such  in- 
defatigable zeal. 


LETTERS  OR  DESPATCHES 

FERNANDO   CORTES, 

TO    THE 

EMPEROR   CHARLES    V. 


LETTER  IV. 

Dated  at  the  city  of  Temixtitan,  (Mexico,)'  Oct.  15th,  1524. 

Most  Noble,  Powerful  and  Excellent  Prince  : 

Most  Catholic  and  invincible  Emperor,  King  and  Lord: 

In  the  relation  that  I  transmitted  to  your  Majesty  by 
the  hands  of  Juan  de  Rivera,  concerning  what  has  taken 
place  in  these  parts  since  my  second  despatch,  I  stated 
that  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  peace  and  submission 
to  your  Majesty's  royal  service  amongst  the  provinces  of 
Cuatusco,  Tustepeque,  Guatasca,  and  Others  bordering 
upon  them,  situated  on  the  North  Sea,*  (which  after  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  in  this  city  had  thrown  off 
their  allegiance,)  I  had  commissioned  the  alguazil  mayor 
to  proceed  thither  with  a  considerable  force,  and  that  he 
was  then  already  on  his  march ;  and  that  I  had  given 
him  orders  to  form  a  settlement  in  those  provinces  to  be 
called  the  town  of  Medellin.f     I  have  now  to  inform  your 

*  The  Gulf  of  Mexico 

t  La  villa  de  Medellin  ;  so  called  from  the  native  place  of  Corteg. 


360  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

Highness,  that  the  proposed  town  was  accordingly  set- 
tled, and  all  that  region  with  its  various  provinces  redu- 
ced to  a  state  of  peace.  I  afterwards  despatched  an  ad- 
ditional number  of  men  to  the  same  quarter,  with  orders 
to  the  alguazil  mayor  to  continue  his  route  along  the  coast 
as  far  as  Guazaeualco,  which  is  fifty  leagues  from  Me- 
dellin,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  from  this  city ;  to 
which  during  my  former  residence  in  this  city,  in  the  life- 
time of  Muteczuma,  its  lord,  I  sent  Diego  de  Ordas,  who 
is  now  at  your  Majesty's  court;  as  I  constantly  labored 
to  obtain  all  possible  information  about  that  region,  in 
order  to  communicate  it  to  your  Majesty.  Ordas  was 
received  with  the  utmost  good  will  by  the  nobles  and 
native  inhabitants,  who  submitted  themselves  as  vassals 
and  subjects  of  your  Highness.  He  also  ascertained  the 
existence  of  a  large  river  that  flowed  through  the  province 
and  discharged  into  the  sea,  with  a  good  harbor  for  ships 
at  its  mouth,  which  he  and  the  rest  of  his  party  had 
sounded ;  the  adjacent  country  was  also  found  suitable 
for  a  colony.  On  account  of  the  want  of  harbors  on  this 
coast,  it  was  desirable  to  find  a  good  one,  where  a  settle- 
ment might  be  formed. 

I  commanded  the  alguazil  mayor,  that  before  he  en- 
tered the  province  he  should  despatch  from  its  borders 
certain  persons,  natives  of  this  city,  indicated  by  me,  as 
messengers  to  inform  the  inhabitants  that  he  had  gone 
there  in  obedience  to  my  orders,  and  to  ascertain  whether 
they  were  favorably  disposed  towards  your  Majesty's 
service  and  our  alliance,  as  they  had  shown  themselves 
on  a  former  occasion ;  assuring  them  it  was  in  conse- 
quence of  the  wars  in  which  I  had  been  engaged  with 
the  lord  of  this  city  and  his  tributaries,  that  I  had  neg- 
lected sending  persons  to  visit  them  for  so  long  a  time  ; 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  361 

but  that  I  had  ever  esteemed  them  as  friends  and  vassals 
of  your  Highness,  in  which  relation  they  would  find  me 
disposed  to  do  every  thing  for  them  in  my  power;  and 
finally,  that  in  order  to  favor  and  protect  them  under  any 
circumstances  of  necessity  whatever  in  which  they  might 
be  placed,  I  had  sent  these  people  to  form  a  colony  in 
their  province.  The  alguazil  mayor  with  the  force  under 
his  command  proceeded  and  acted  according  to  my  or- 
ders, bat  did  not  meet  with  that  favorable  disposition  on 
the  part  of  the  inhabitants  which  they  had  before  shown; 
on  the  contrary,  they  were  found  in  a  warlike  attitude, 
ready  to  dispute  the  entrance  of  our  people  into  their  ter- 
ritory. He  managed,  however,  to  surprise  a  village  by 
an  attack  in  the  night,  where  he  took  prisoner  a  woman 
of  superior  rank,  whom  all  in  that  region  obeyed ;  through 
whose  means  peace  was  made,  for  she  called  in  the  no- 
bles and  ordered  them  to  execute  whatever  commands  I 
should  issue  in  your  Majesty's  name,  as  she  herself  in- 
tended to  do.  Thus  they  reached  the  river  in  question, 
[the  Guasacualco,]  and  at  a  place  four  leagues  from  where 
it  discharges  into  the  sea,  (no  suitable  site  being  found 
within  a  less  distance,)  a  settlement  was  commenced  and 
a  town  founded,  to  which  was  given  the  name  of  Espiritu 
Santo ;  and  there  the  alguazil  mayor  sojourned  for  some 
days,  until  peace  was  made  with  many  other  neighboring 
provinces,  and  their  allegiance  secured  to  your  Catho- 
lic Majesty.  Of  this  number  were  Tabasco,  on  the  river 
Victoria,  or  Grijalva,  as  sometimes  called ;  Chimaclan, 
Quechula,  Quizaltepeque,  and  others  that  I  omit  to  men- 
tion from  their  small  extent ;  and  the  natives  of  these 
provinces  placed  themselves  under  the  protection  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  new  town,  whom  they  have  continued 
to  serve  until  now  ;  except  that  some  of  them,  I  speak  of 


362  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

Cimaclan,  Tabasco,  and  Quizaltepeque,  have  lately  re- 
belled, and  a  month  ago  I  sent  a  captain  with  a  force 
from  this  city  to  reduce  them  to  your  Majesty's  service, 
and  punish  their  rebellion.  I  have  as  yet  received  no 
news  of  him,  but  I  believe,  if  it  please  our  Lord,  that  they 
will  have  good  success,  since  they  were  well  provided 
with  artillery,  munitions  of  war,  bowmen  and  cavalry. 

In  my  former  despatch,  Most  Catholic  Sire,  of  which 
Juan  de  Rivera  was  the  bearer,  I  informed  your  imperial 
and  Catholic  Majesty  that  a  great  province,  called  Me- 
chuacan,  the  lord  of  which  was  named  Casulci,  had 
offered  its  homage  through  messengers,  who  brought  a 
certain  present,  which  I  forwarded  from  this  New  Spain 
to  your  Highness  by  the  deputies  ;  and  as,  according  to 
the  accounts  brought  by  several  Spaniards  that  I  sent 
thither,  the  province  and  seignory  of  the  Senor  Casulci* 
was  of  great  extent,  and  possessed  much  wealth,  of 
which  they  saw  the  proofs ;  it  being  so  near  this  great 
city,  after  I  had  obtained  a  reinforcement  of  men  and 
horses,  I  commissioned  a  captain  with  seventy  horse  and 
two  hundred  foot,  well  provided  with  arms  and  artillery, 
to  visit  that  province,  and  explore  it,  and  if  it  was  found 
to  be  as  represented,  to  establish  a  colony  in  the  princi- 
pal city  of  Huicicila.  He  accordingly  departed,  and 
was  well  received  by  the  Sefior  and  the  inhabitants  of 

*  This  name  is  more  properly  written  Catzolcin.  The  dominions  of  this  na- 
tive province  comprised  the  most  fertile  portions  of  Mexico,  to  some  part  of 
which,  called  by  the  Spaniards  the  Province  of  Valladolid,  the  primitive  name 
of  Mechuacan  has  been  of  late  restored.  In  1531,  Don  Nuno  de  Guzman,  a 
Spanish  governor,  having  invaded  the  northern  part  of  Mechuacan,  now  called 
Jalisco,  took  the  cacique  prisoner,  and  having  seized  ten  thousand  marcs  of  sil- 
ver, besides  a  considerable  amount  of  gold,  and  six  thousand  Indians  for  the  use 
of  his  army,  burned  at  the  stake  Catzolcin  and  many  of  Ms  nobles.  This  un- 
necessary cruelty,  says  Lorenzana,  was  signally  punished  :  Guzman  was  de- 
posed from  office,  arrested,  and  sent  to  Spain,  where  he  died  suddenly,  under 
the  displeasure  of  the  king. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  363 

the  province,  who  lodged  them  in  that  city,  provided 
them  with  every  thing  necessary  for  their  subsistence, 
and  gave  them  about  three  thousand  marcs  of  silver  al- 
loyed with  copper,  being  half  silver;  also  about  five 
thousand  pesos  of  gold  alloyed  with  silver  in  no  definite 
proportion  ;  together  with  cotton  cloth,  and  other  things 
that  they  had  ;  all  which,  after  deducting  a  fifth  part  for 
your  Majesty,  was  distributed  amongst  the  Spaniards  of 
the  party.  Nevertheless,  our  people  were  not  sufficiently 
pleased  wTith  the  country  to  be  willing  to  settle  in  it,  and 
some  of  them  making  a  disturbance  were  punished  for 
their  disorderly  conduct.  I  therefore  caused  those  to 
return  who  desired,  and  the  rest  I  ordered  to  go  with  a 
captain  to  the  South  Sea,  where  I  had  and  still  have  a 
town,  called  Zacatula,*  one  hundred  leagues  from  Hui- 
cicila ;  I  have  also  at  the  same  place  four  ships  on  the 
stocks,  for  the  purpose  of  making  discoveries  on  the  sea 
to  the  utmost  extent  of  my  power,  and  to  promote  the 
service  of  God  our  Lord. 

While  this  captain  and  his  detachment  were  on  their 
way  to  the  city  of  Zacatula,  they  received  accounts  of  a 
province  called  Coliman,  situated  fifty  leagues  to  the 
west  of  their  route ;  and  the  whole  party,  accompanied 
by  many  of  our  allies  of  Mechuacan,  proceeded  towards 
it  without  my  permission ;  but  having  advanced  some 
days  on  the  march,  they  had  several  engagements  with 
the  inhabitants,  and  although  numbering  forty  horse, 
more  than  a  hundred  foot,  bowmen  and  others  armed 
with  sword  and  buckler,  they  were  routed  and  driven 
out  of  the  country ;  three  Spaniards  and  many  of  the 
allies  were  killed ;  and  the  rest  took  refuge  in  the  city  of 

*  This  place  still  retains  its  original  name ;  it  is  a  small  seaport  on  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  north  of  Acapulco. 


364  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

Zacatula.  As  soon  as  I  heard  of  this  disaster,  I  ordered 
the  captain  to  be  brought  back  under  arrest,  and  pun- 
ished for  his  disobedience. 

Having  already  informed  your  Imperial  Majesty  that 
I  had  sent  Pedro  de  Alvarado  to  the  province  of  Tutute- 
peque,*  on  the  South  -Sea,  I  have  only  to  add  that  he 
arrived  there,  and  made  prisoners  of  the  cacique  and  his 
son,  who  presented  him  with  specimens  of  gold  from 
the  mines  and  pearls  ;  this  is  all  the  information  I  have 
received  to  the  present  time.  Your  Highness  will  recol- 
lect that  in  answer  to  the  accounts  this  officer  forwarded 
to  me  on  a  former  occasion,  I  ordered  him  to  seek  imme- 
diately in  that  province  a  convenient  location  for  a  colony, 
and  to  establish  one  there  ;  and  I  also  ordered  that  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Segura  de  la  Frontera  should 
remove  to  this  place,  since  there  was  no  necessity  of 
another  town  so  near.  This  change  accordingly  took 
place,  and  the  town  was  called  Segura  la  Frontera,  in- 
stead of  that  which  had  existed  under  the  same  name. 
The  natives  of  this  province  and  of  Guaxaca,  Coaclan, 
Coasclahuaca,  Tachquiaco,  and  others  in  the  vicinity, 
were  distributed  amongst  the  citizens  of  that  town, 
where  they  served,  willingly  rendering  themselves  use- 
ful ;  and  Pedro  de  Alvarado  remained  there  as  magis- 
trate and  captain  in  my  place.  It  happened  while  I  was 
engaged  in  the  conquest  of  Panuco,  as  I  shall  hereafter 
relate  to  your  Majesty,  that  the  alcaldes  and  regidores  of 
this  town  asked  Pedro  de  Alvarado  to  go  as  their  deputy 
to  make  certain  negotiations  with  me,  to  which  he  con- 
sented ;  and  in  his  absence  the  alcaldes  and  regidores 
formed  a  sort  of  league  and  company,  convoking  the 

*  Situated  to  the  south  of  Mechuacan,  in  Oaxaca.    There  was  a  place  of  the 
s  ame  name  in  Puebla. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  365 

commonalty  and  appointing  new  alcaldes,  and  against 
the  wishes  of  the  captain  whom  Pedro  de  Alvarado  had 
left  in  his  place,  they  abandoned  the  town,  and  went  in- 
to the  province  of  Guaxaca,  thus  occasioning  much  un- 
easiness and  disturbance  in  that  quarter.  As  soon  as  I 
was  informed  of  this  movement  by  the  captain  left  there, 
I  despatched  Diego  de  Ocampo,  the  alcalde  mayor,  to 
obtain  a  knowledge  of  what  had  taken  place,  and  punish 
the  guilty.  When  they  heard  of  this,  the  persons  in 
question  withdrew,  and  were  absent  several  days,  until 
I  apprehended  them ;  so  that  the  alcalde  mayor  was 
unable  to  arrest  more  than  one  of  the  rebels,  whom  he 
sentenced  to  death,  but  the  man  appealed  to  me.  When 
the  others  were  taken,  I  delivered  them  to  the  alcalde 
mayor,  who  proceeded  against  them  and  sentenced  them 
as  he  had  done  the  other  to  death  j  they  also  appealed  to 
me.  When  they  had  been  tried  a  second  time  before 
me,  and  with  the  same  result,  I  determined,  although 
the  offence  was  a  serious  one,  yet  on  account  of  the  time 
that  had  elapsed  since  they  were  arrested,  to  commute 
the  punishment  of  death  to  which  they  had  been  sen- 
tenced to  a  civil  death,  that  is,  to  banish  them  from' these 
parts  and  forbid  their  return,  without  the  license  of  your 
Majesty,  under  the  penalty  of  incurring  their  original 
sentence.  In  the  mean  time,  the  lord  of  the  province  of 
^Tututepeque  died  j  and  that  province  and  the  others 
adjacent  rebelled  ;  whereupon  I  sent  Pedro  de  Alvarado 
with  a  force,  accompanied  by  a  son  of  the  deceased  lord, 
whom  I  had  in  my  power ;  and  although  some  rencoun- 
ters had  taken  place,  in  which  several  Spaniards  lost 
their  lives,  the  provinces  returned  to<  your  Majesty's  ser- 
vice, and  now  remain  tranquil,  obedient  to  the  Spaniards, 
although  for  want  of  people,  the  town  is  not  resettled 

47 


366  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

there  being  no  necessity  for  it.  Thus  chastised  for  their 
past  delinquency,  the  inhabitants  have  been  so  completely 
subdued,  that  they  even  come  to  this  city  in  obedience 
to  orders  they  receive. 

As  soon  as  this  city  of  Temixtitan  was  recovered 
with  the  country  subject  to  it,  two  provinces  were  re- 
duced to  the  imperial  crown  of  your  Cesarean  Majesty, 
situated  forty  leagues  to  the  north,  on  the  borders  of  the 
province  of  Panuco,  called  Tututepeque  and  Mezclitan.* 
They  comprised  a  country  of  considerable  strength,  not 
unused  to  the  exercise  of  arms  against  the  enemy,  whom 
they  have  around  them  on  all  sides.  Having  witnessed 
our  dealings  with  the  Panucans,  and  that  no  obstacle 
was  sufficient  to  arrest  the  progress  of  your  Majesty, 
they  sent  messengers  to  me,  and  offered  themselves  as 
subjects  and  vassals  of  your  Majesty  ;  as  such  I  received 
them  in  the  royal  name  of  your  Majesty,  and  they  main- 
tained their  allegiance  until  after  the  coming  of  Christo- 
bal  de  Tapia.  At  that  time,  not  only  tumult  and  con- 
fusion were  caused  in  other  provinces,  but  this  people 
also  refused  to  render  the  obedience  they  had  promised, 
and  had  done  much  injury  to  their  neighbors  who  were 
vassals  of  your  Catholic  Majesty,  burning  many  towns 
and  destroying  many  lives.  Although  at  this  conjunc- 
ture I  had  no  surplus  of  people  to  scatter  among  so  many 
places,  yet  seeing  that  great  evil  would  result  from  not 
checking  this  disaffection,  and  fearing  that  the  neighbor- 
ing people  would  unite  with  them,  to  avoid  injurious 
consequences  I  despatched  a  captain  with  thirty  horse, 
a  hundred  foot,  bowmen,  musketeers,  and  buckler-men, 
together  with  a  large  force  of  our  allies  ;  several  engage- 

*  The  former  in  Puebla,  and  the  latter  to  the  north  of  the  city  of  Mexico. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  367 

raents  ensued,  in  which  considerable  numbers  of  our 
allies  and  two  Spaniards  were  killed ;  but  it  pleased  our 
Lord  that  the  people  voluntarily  sought  for  peace  and 
delivered  up  to  me  their  leaders,  whom  I  pardoned  on 
account  of  their  coming  in  of  their  own  accord  without 
waiting  to  be  taken. 

After  I  was  in  the  province  of  Panuco,  the  natives  of 
those  parts  spread  a  report  that  I  was  gone  to  Castile, 
which  caused  some  disturbance,  and  one  of  those  two 
provinces,  called  Tututepeque,  rebelled  ;  the  cacique, 
descending  from  his  lands  with  a  large  force,  burned 
more  than  twenty  towns  of  our  allies,  and  killed  and 
made  prisoners  of  great  numbers  of  them.  Being  on 
my  return  from  the  province  of  Panuco,  I  turned  aside 
to  conquer  them  ;  and  although  at  first  they  killed  some 
people  of  our  allies  that  were  in  our  rear,  and  ten  or 
twelve  horses  foundered  on  the  sierras  in  consequence  of 
the  ruggedness  of  the  route,  all  the  province  was  re- 
duced, and  the  cacique  and  his  brother,  a  young  man, 
with  his  captain-general,  who  commanded  the  whole 
frontier  of  the  country,  were  taken  prisoners.  The  ca- 
cique and  his  captain-general  were  immediately  hanged, 
and  all  the  prisoners,  being  about  two  hundred  persons, 
were  made  slaves,  who  were  marked  and  sold  by  auction, 
and  the  proceeds,  including  the  fifth  that  belonged  to 
your  Majesty,  distributed  amongst  those  engaged  in  the 
war,  but  proved  insufficient  to  pay  for  one-third  of  the 
horses  that  were  lost ;  for  on  account  of  the  poverty  of 
the  country  there  was  no  other  spoil.  The  rest  of  the 
people  who  remained  in  the  province  made  peace  with 
us  and  still  maintain  it,  having  for  their  lord  the  youthful 
brother  of  the  cacique  who  suffered  death.  Although  at 
present  the  country  is  of  no  service  or  advantage  to  us, 


368  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

by  reason  of  the  poverty  of  the  land,  as  I  have  remarked, 
yet  it  is  better  it  should  be  in  a  state  of  quiet  than  cause 
our  friends  any  uneasiness ;  and  for  still  greater  security 
I  have  removed  to  it  some  of  the  natives  of  this  region. 

At  this  time,  invincible  Caesar,  there  arrived  at  the 
port  and  town  of  Espiritu  Santo,  of  which  I  have  made 
mention  on  a  preceding  page,  a  very  small  brigan- 
tine  from  Cuba,  and  in  it  one  Juan  Bono  de  Quejo, 
who  had  accompanied  the  expedition  of  Panfilo  de  Nar- 
vaez  to  this  country  as  master  of  one  of  the  ships  ;  and 
it  appeared  by  the  despatches  that  he  brought,  that  he 
came  by  command  of  Don  Juan  de  Fonseca,  Bishop  of 
Burgos,  in  the  belief  that  Christobal  de  Tapia,  whom  he 
had  contrived  to  have  made  governor  of  it,  was  here. 
Lest  he  should  meet  with  obstacles,  as  he  feared,  for  the 
manifest  reason  that  led  him'  to  fear  it,  the  Bishop  sent 
him  to  the  island  of  Cuba  to  communicate  with  Diego 
Velasquez.,  as  he  had  done,  who  had  given  him  the  bri- 
gantine  in  which  he  arrived.  This  Juan  Bono  brought 
about  one  hundred  letters  of  the  same  tenor,  signed  by 
the  bishop,  some  of  which  I  believe  were  with  blank 
directions,  in  order  that  Juan  Bono  might  giye  them  to 
such  persons  as  were  here,  and  he  thought  best ;  the 
purport  of  these  letters  was,  that  they  would  much  ad- 
vance the  service  of  your  imperial  Majesty  by  giving 
the  said  Tapia  a  favorable  reception,  for  which  they 
would  obtain  a  great  reward  ;  that  they  should  be  in- 
formed that  by  serving  with  me  they  were  acting  against 
the  wishes  of  your  Excellency  ;  and  many  other  things 
sufficiently  calculated  to  excite  sedition  and  disaffection. 
To  me  he  wrote  another  letter  of  the  same  general  tenor, 
to  which  he  added  that  if  I  would  obey  the  said  Tapia 
I  should  receive  marked  rewards  from  your  Majesty ; 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  369 

but  if  not,  that  I  might  deem  it  certain  you  would  con- 
sider me  a  mortal  enemy.  The  arrival  of  this  Juan 
Bono  and  the  letters  he  brought  produced  such  an  effect 
on  the  people  with  me,  that  I  assure  your  Majesty  if  I 
had  not  pacified  them  by  explaining  the  cause  of  the 
bishop's  writing  in  this  way,  and  leading  them  to  disre- 
gard his  threats,  at  the  same  time  declaring  that  the 
greatest  service  your  Majesty  could  receive,  and  for 
which  you  would  bestow  the  greatest  recompense,  would 
be  to  prevent  the  bishop  or  any  of  his  people  from  inter- 
fering with  these  regions,  as  it  was  his  intention  to  con- 
ceal the  truth  from  your  Majesty,  and  to  seek  rewards 
here  without  your  Majesty  knowing  what  you  were  be- 
stowing— I  should  have  had  difficulty  enough  to  keep 
them  quiet,  especially  when  I  was  informed,  although  I 
feigned  ignorance  at  the  time,  that  they  proposed,  (as 
fears  were  felt  in  regard  to  their  pay,)  to  have  a  council 
here  as  well  as  in  Castile,  that  your  Majesty  might  be 
informed  of  the  truth ;  since  the  bishop  had  so  much  to 
do  in  this  business,  that  their  representations  did  not 
reach  the  knowledge  of  your  Highness ;  as  he  held  the 
offices  in  the  board  of  trade  at  Seville  in  his  own  control, 
where  their  messengers  had  been  ill  treated,  their  re- 
ports, letters  and  money  taken  from  them,  and  all  succors 
of  men,  arms  and  provisions  withheld.  But  by  ac- 
quainting them  with  what  I  have  stated  above,  and 
assuring  them  that  your  Majesty  knew  nothing  of  any  o 
those  things,  and  that  they  might  be  satisfied  your  High- 
ness would  reward  them  for  their  services  in  such  a 
manner  as  good  and  loyal  subjects  who  served  their 
king  and  lord  as  they  had  done,  deserved  ;  I  succeeded 
in  calming  their  fears,  and  they  became  and  still  are 
content  with  the    arrangements   your  Highness   com- 


370  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

manded  me  to  make,  according  to  the  royal  provisions. 
They  have  since  served  with  the.  greatest  alacrity  and 
good  will,  as  the  fruits  of  their  labors  bear  witness, 
for  which  they  merit  some  reward  from  your  Majesty — 
as  they  have  always  rendered  good  service,  and  still 
do  so,  and  are  disposed  to  continue  in  the  same  course. 
I  therefore  most  humbly  entreat  your  Majesty  on  their 
behalf;  for  I  shall  receive  it  as  no  less  a  mark  of  favor 
to  myself  than  to  them,  if  a  reward  is  given  them  ;  since 
without  them  I  could  not  have  rendered  your  Majesty 
the  service  I  have  done.  Especially,  I  supplicate  your 
Highness  in  the  most  humble  manner  to  write  to  them, 
referring  to  the  toils  they  have  encountered  in  your  ser- 
vice, and  offering  them  rewards  for  what  they  have  done  ; 
since  besides  discharging  a  debt  which  your  Majesty 
owes  in  this  matter,  it  would  animate  them  to  perform 
future  service  with  much  greater  zeal. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  371 


CHAPTER  II. 

By  an  order  which  your  imperial  Majesty,  on  the 
petition  of  Juan  de  Rivera,  has  granted  touching  the  af- 
fairs of  the  Adelantado  Francisco  de  Garay,  it  appears 
your  Highness  was  informed  that  I  had  resolved  to  go  or 
send  to  the  river  Panuco  for  the  purpose  of  establishing 
peace.  One  reason  was,  that  there  was  reported  to  be 
a  good  harbor  at  the  mouth  of  that  river  ;  and  moreover, 
a  number  of  Spaniards  had  been  killed  there,  as  well 
the  party  under  a  captain  sent  by  Francisco  de  Garay, 
as  another  belonging  to  a  ship  that  afterwards  visited  that 
coast,  of  whom  not  one  was  left  alive.  Some  of  the 
natives  of  those  parts  had  come  to  me  to  excuse  them- 
selves for  these  murders,  saying  that  they  had  committed 
them  with  the  knowledge  that  the  men  did  not  belong  to 
my  company,  and  alleging  that  they  had  been  ill-treated 
by  them  ;  but  they  assured  me  that  if  I  wished  to  send 
any  of  my  people  there,  they  would  receive  them  with 
much  attention,  and  serve  them  by  all  means  in  their 
power  ;  that  they  would  be  pleased  to  have  me  send 
them,  for  they  feared  that  some  of  their  enemies  with 
whom  they  had  been  engaged  would  return  to  wreak 
their  vengeance  on  them,  since  they  were  their  neighbors 
and  had  done  them  much  mischief;  but  that  the  Span- 
iards whom  I  should  order  there  would  be  able  to  pro- 
tect them.  When  these  persons  came  to  me,  it  was  out 
of  my  power  to  comply  with  their  request,  but  I  pro- 
mised them  I  would  do  so  in  as  short  a  time  as  possible  ; 
whereupon  they  went  away  contented,  having  offered 


372  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

for  vassals  of  your  Majesty  ten  or  twelve  towns  of  those 
nearest  to  the  limits  of  the  dominions  of  this  city.  A  few 
days  after  they  returned  to  me,  earnestly  entreating  that 
since  I  had  sent  Spaniards  to  colonize  other  parts  of  the 
country,  I  would  establish  a  colony  amongst  them  also  ; 
otherwise,  on  account  of  their  having  come  to  me,  they 
would  receive  much  injury  from  their  enemies  belonging 
to  the  same  river,  and  those  on  the  sea-coast,  although 
they  were  of  the  same  race  as  themselves.  In  order  to 
comply  with  the  wishes  of  these  persons,  and  to  found  a 
colony,  as  I  was  now  better  supplied  with  men,  I  directed 
a  captain  to  go  to  that  river,  taking  a  certain  number 
with  him ;  and  while  he  was  on  the  eve  of  his  departure, 
I  learned  by  a  ship  that  came  from  the  island  of  Cuba, 
that  the  Admiral  Don  Diego  Columbus*  and  the  Adelan- 
tados  Diego  Velasquez  and  Francisco  de  Garay  had 
joined  their  forces,  and  confederated  together  to  effect  an 
entrance  into  the  country  at  that  place,  in  order  to  do  me 
as  an  enemy  all  the  injury  in  their  power.  To  prevent 
their  hostile  disposition  from  taking  effect,  and  guard 
against  any  disturbance  being  produced  by  their  arrival,  as 
had  happened  in  the  case  of  Narvaez,  I  left  the  city, 
having  taken  all  the  precautions  in  my  power,  to  go  in 
person,  in  order  that  if  they  or  any  one  of  them  should 
arrive,  they  might  meet  me  before  any  one  else,  as  I 
could  better  avert  the  danger. 

Thus  I  departed  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  horse, 
three  hundred  foot,  and  some  artillery,  besides  about  forty 
thousand  warriors  natives  of  this  city  and  its  vicinity ; 
and  when  I  had  arrived  within  the  limits  of  the  country, 
full  twenty-five  leagues  before  reaching  the  port,  in  a 
large  settlement  called  Ayntuscotaclan,  I  encountered  on 

*  Son  of  Christopher  Columbus. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  873 

the  road  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  and  engaged  with 
them  ;  but  on  account  of  the  great  number  of  our  allies, 
who  came  to  our  assistance,  and  the  level  ground  well 
suited  to  the  movements  of  the  cavalry,  the  battle  did  not 
last  long,  although  several  of  my  horses  and  men  were 
wounded,  and  some  of  our  allies  killed  ;  the  enemy  suf- 
fered most,  great  numbers  of  them  being  killed,  and  their 
whole  force  routed.    I  remained  there  in  the  town  two  or 
three  days,  both  to  cure  the  wounded,  and  receive  the  peo- 
ple who  came  to  acknowledge  themselves  vassals  of  your 
Highness.     They  followed  me  to  the  port,  and  rendered 
us  every  service  in  their  power.     In  no  part  of  the  route 
did  I  again  encounter  an  enemy  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
as  I  proceeded  along  the  road,  the  inhabitants  came  out 
to  beg  my  pardon  for  their  past  offences,  and  to  offer  pro- 
fessions of  allegiance  to  your  Highness.     Having  arrived 
at  the  harbor  and  river,  I  took  up  my  quarters  in  a  town 
five  leagues  from  the  sea,  called  Chila,  which  had  been 
depopulated  and  burnt,  in  consequence  of  the  defeat  of 
the  captain  and  people   of  Francisco  de    Garay  at  that 
place.     From1  thence  I  sent  messengers  to  the  other  side 
of  the  river,  and  to  the  lakes,  on  all  of  which  are  situated 
large  towns,  proclaiming  to  the  inhabitants  that  they  need 
entertain  no  fears  that  I  would  make  them  suffer  for  the 
past,  for  I  well  knew  it  was  in  consequence  of  the  ill 
treatment  they  had  received  from  our  people  that  they 
had  risen  against  them,  for  which  they  deserved  no  blame. 
Nevertheless   none  of  them  would  come  in,    but   they 
abused  the  messengers,  and  even  killed  some  of  them ; 
and  as  on  the  other  side  of  the   river  there   was   fresh 
water  from  which  we  obtained  our  supplies,  they  posted 
themselves  there,  and  fell  upon  those  who  went  for  the 
water.     Thus  I  remained  more  than'  fifteen  days,  think- 
.       48 


374  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

ing  I  could  bring  them  over  by  kind  acts,  and  with  the 
hope  that  seeing  the  good  treatment  of  those  who  came 
in,  they  might  be  induced  to  follow  their  example  ;  but 
they  had  so  much  confidence  in  the  security  afforded  by 
their  lakes,  on  which  they  abode,  that  none  of  them  would 
come.  When  I  discovered  that  nothing  was  gained  in 
this  way,  I  began  to  seek  a  remedy ;  besides  the  canoes 
that  we  had  there  from  the  beginning,  we  took  others, 
and  by  means  of  them  landed  horses  and  men  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river  during  the  night,  without  being  ob- 
served by  the  enemy.  I  passed  over  myself,  leaving  the 
camp  carefully  guarded  ;  and  as  soon  as  we  were  dis- 
covered, a  large  body  of  the  enemy  came  up  and  attacked 
us  with  greater  vigor  and  boldness  than  I  have  ever  wit- 
nessed since  I  have  been  in  this  country;  they  killed  two 
horses,  and  wounded  more  than  ten  others  so  badly  that 
they  were  unable  to  go.  By  the  aid  of  our  Lord,  how- 
ever, we  succeeded  in  routing  them,  and  pursued  them 
about  a  league,  when  many  of  their  number  perished. 
With  about  thirty  horse  that  remained  to  me,  and  a  h  undred 
foot,  I  still  continued  advancing,  and  at  night  lodged  in 
a  town  three  leagues  from  my  camp,  which  was  desert- 
ed by  its  inhabitants ;  in  the  temple  of  this  place  several 
articles  were  found  that  belonged  to  the  party  of  Fran- 
cisco de  Garay,  who  were  killed  by  the  natives. 

The  next  day  I  advanced  along  the  coast  of  a  lake  to 
find  a  passage  to  the  other  side,  where  we  saw  inhabi- 
tants and  towns  ;  but  we  spent  the  whole  day  without 
discovering  any  end  to  the  lake,  or  place  where  we  could 
cross  it.  About  the  hour  of  vespers  we  came  in  sight  of 
a  handsome  town,  and  proceeded  towards  it;  it  was 
situated  on  the  shore  of  the  lake,  and  when  we  arrived 
at  the  place,  it  was  already  evening,  and  no  inhabitants 
were  seen.     But  to  insure  our  safety,  I  ordered  ten  horse- 


CONQUEST    CF    MEXICO.  375 

men  to  enter  the  town  by  the  road  to  the  right,  while  I 
with  ten  others  took  the  other  course  leading  clown  to- 
wards the  lake ;  the  remaining  ten  horse  were  to  bring 
up  the  rearguard,  and  had  not  yet  arrived.  On  entering 
the  place  there  appeared  to  be  a  great  number  of  people 
concealed  in  ambush  within  the  houses,  in  order  to  take 
us  by  surprise  ;  who  attacked  us  with  such  spirit,  that 
they  killed  a  horse  and  wounded  almost  all  the  others  be- 
sides many  Spaniards.  They  fought  with  great  method, 
and  the  battle  lasted  a  long  time ;  although  repulsed 
three  or  four  times,  they  formed  again  each  time,  and 
kneeling  upon  the  ground  in  a  circle,  without  speaking 
or  uttering  any  sound,  waited  for  us  to  come  up,  when 
they  poured  into  us  a  shower  of  arrows,  which  flew  so 
thick  that  if  we  had  not  been  protected  by  armor  not  one 
of  us  would  have  escaped  unhurt.  At  length  it  pleased 
our  Lord  that  some  of  the  enemy,  who  were  nearest  to  a 
stream  that  flowed  into  the  lake  along  which  I  had  march- 
ed all  day,  threw  themselves  into  the  water,  when  others 
behind  them  also  began  to  run  towards  the  stream,  and 
thus  a  general  rout  took  place,  though  they  only  fled  to 
the  other  side  of  the  river.  Thus  we  remained  until 
night  closed  in,  they  on  one  side  and  we  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river,  which  was  too  deep  for  us  to  cross  in  pur- 
suit of  them,  though  we  were  not  sorry  to  have  them  pass 
it.  So  we  returned  to  the  town,  which  was  about  a  sling's 
throw  from  the  river ;  where  we  stayed  that  night  as  well 
guarded  as  possible,  and  consumed  the  horse  the  enemy 
had  killed,  having  no  other  provision.  The  next  day,  as 
the  inhabitants  did  not  appear,  we  took  a  road  that  led 
to  three  or  four  towns,  in  which  no  people  were  found, 
nor  any  thing  else  except  some  store-rooms  for  wine,  con- 


376  LETTERS    OF    CORTES, 

taining  a  goodly  number  of  jars  of  that  beverage.*  During 
that  day  we  fell  in  with  none  of  the  inhabitants,  and  slept 
in  the  country,  where  we  found  some  fields  of  maize, 
with  which  our  men  and  horses  were  somewhat  refresh- 
ed ;  and  in  this  manner  I  proceeded  for  two  or  three 
days,  seeing  no  one  although  we  passed  several  towns, 
until  overcome  by  the  want  of  food,  (having  had  during 
all  this  time  but  fifty  pounds  of  bread  amongst  us  all,)  we 
returned  to  the  camp,  where  I  found  our  people  in  good 
condition,  not  having  encountered  the  enemy  during  our 
absence.  It  occurred  immediately  to  me  that  all  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  quarter  had  gone  to  that  part  of  the  lake  which  I 
had  been  unable  to  cross  ;  I  therefore  at  night  embarked 
some  men  and  horses  in  canoes  to  go  in  that  direction,  while 
the  bowmen  and  musketeers  went  up  the  lake,  and  the 
rest  of  the  people  proceeded  by  land.  In  this  manner 
the  combined  force  attacked  a  large  town,  in  which 
many  of  the  enemy  were  surprised  and  slain  ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  finding  there  was"  no  safety  for  them 
although  surrounded  by  water,  being  still  liable  to  unex- 
pected assaults,  they  began  to  sue  for  peace ;  and  thus 
in  about  twenty  days  the  whole  country  was  subdued, 
and  the  inhabitants  submitted  themselves  as  vassals  of 
your  Majesty. 

As  soon  as  peace  had  been  thus  established,  I  commis- 
sioned several  persons  to  visit  every  part  of  this  region, 
and  to  bring  me  a  report  of  the  towns  and  inhabitants  ; 
when  this  was  done,  I  sought  for  the  best  location  that  I 
could  find,  where  I  planted  a  town,  with  the  name  of 
Santistevan  del  Puerto.  In  addition  to  those  who  desi- 
red to  remain  there  to  inhabit  the  new  town,  I  transferred 

*  Probably  the  same  kind  of  liquor  still  made  in  that  quarter  from  the  sugar-cane. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  377 

to  the  place  in  your  Majesty's  name  the  inhabitants  of 
several  villages  ;  and  having  appointed  alcaldes  and  re- 
gidores,  I  left  there  my  lieutenant  as  captain  together  with 
thirty  horse  and  one  hundred  foot,  and  also  a  shallop  and 
fishing  boat,  that  had  been  brought  to  me  from  Vera 
Cruz,  to  enable  them  to  provide  themselves  with  supplies. 
A  servant  of  mine  had  sent  me  from  the  same  place  a 
ship  loaded  with  meat,  bread,  wine,  oil,  vinegar,  and 
other  things,  which  was  wholly  lost,  and  three  of  the 
crew  yet  remained  on  a  small  island  in  the  sea  five  leagues 
from  land;  for  when  I  afterwards  sent  a  brigantine, 
they  were  found  alive,  having  sustained  themselves  by 
feeding  upon  sea-wolves,  and  a  fruit  which  they  called 
figs.* 

I  assure  your  Majesty  that  this  expedition  cost  me 
alone  more  than  30,000  pesos  of  gold,  as  can  be  made 
to  appear  to  your  Majesty  by  the  rendition  of  the  ac- 
counts ;  and  it  cost  my  companions  as  much  more  for 
horses,  provisions,  arms,  and  horse-shoes,  the  latter  being 
worth  at  that  time  their  weight  in  gold,  and  twice  their 
weight  in  silver.  But  when  we  considered  that  so  great 
an  extent  of  country  was  reduced  to  your  Majesty's  ser- 
vice, it  appeared  to  us  a  happy  result,  even  should  a 
greater  expense  have  been  incurred  ;  because,  besides 
placing  these  Indians  under  the  imperial  sway  of  your 
Majesty,  a  ship  had  afterwards  arrived  there  with  many 
people  on  board  and  a  great  supply  of  provisions,  and 
discharged  her  cargo,  which  they  could  not  have  done 
under  other  circumstances ;  for  if  peace  had  not  been 
established,  not  a  soul  could  have  escaped.  Such  had 
been  the  fate  of  another  ship,  whose  company  were  all 

*  Probably  the  nopal  or  Indian  fig,  the  fruit  of  a  species  of  cactus.  The  sea- 
wolves  (,'labos  marinos')  were  doubtless  seals,  somotimes  called  sea-dogs. 


378  LETTERS  OF  CORTES. 

massacred  ;  and  we  had  found  the  faces  of  the  Spaniards 
flayed  in  their  temples,  that  is  to  say,  their  skins  pre- 
served in  such  a  manner  that  many  of  them  could  be 
recognized.  Even  when  the  Adelantado  Francisco  de 
Garay  arrived  in  this  country,  as  I  shall  hereafter  relate 
to  your  Majesty,  neither  himself  nor  any  who  came  with 
him  would  have  escaped  alive  ;  for  being  compelled  by 
stress  of  weather  to  land  thirty  leagues  below  the  river 
Panuco,  where  they  lost  some  of  their  ships,  and  all 
were  driven  ashore  in  distress,  they  would  have  perished 
if  the  people  on  the  coast  had  not  been  at  peace  with  us, 
who  took  pains  to  convey  them  to  a  Spanish  town.  Thus 
it  is  of  no  slight  advantage  to  have  this  land  in  the  en- 
joyment of  peace. 

In  a  preceding  part  of  this  despatch,  most  excellent 
Prince,  I  stated  that  when  on  my  return  from  the  reduc- 
tion of  the  province  of  Panuco,  I  had  conquered  the  pro- 
vince of  Tututepeque,  which  had  rebelled,  at  the  same 
time  relating  all  that  took  place  on  that  occasion  ;  when 
I  received  information  respecting  a  province  near  the 
South  Sea,  called  Impilcingo,  of  the  same  character  as 
that  of  Tututepeque,  rendered  strong  by  sierras  and  the 
inequality  of  the  ground,  and  inhabited  by  a  people  not 
less  warlike,  who  had  done  much  injury  to  the  vassals 
of  your  imperial  Majesty,  their  neighbors ;  the  latter  had 
come  to  me  with  their  complaints  to  solicit  aid.  Although 
my  troops  were  somewhat  wearied,  and  the  distance 
from  one  sea  to  the  other  by  that  route  was  two  hundred 
leagues,  I  immediately  detached  twenty-five  horse  and 
seventy  or  eighty  foot,  under  the  command  of  a  captain, 
and  ordered  them  to  proceed  to  that  province.  In  the 
instructions  that  he  carried,  I  directed  him  to  labor  to 
draw  them  by  gentle  means  to  the  service  of  your  High- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  379 

ness ;  but  if  unsuccessful,  to  make  war  upon  them.    He 
proceeded  thither,  and  had  several  encounters  with  the 
enemy ;  but  on  account  of  the  rough  nature  of  the  coun- 
try he  was  unable  to  subdue  the  whole.     I  had  also 
ordered  him  in  my  instructions  to  go  to  the  city  of  Zaca- 
tula,  and  with  what  force  he  had,  and  such  additional 
strength  as  he  could  raise,  to  march  to  the  province  of 
Coliman,  where,  as  I  have  already  related,  the  people 
had  defeated  a  captain  and  his  party,  who  had  gone 
from  the  province  of  Mechuacan  to  that  city  ;  and  that 
he  should  endeavor  to  draw  them  by  friendly  means, 
and  if  these  were  insufficient,  to  conquer  them.     He 
accordingly  went  thither,  and  the  force  he  carried  with 
what  he  took  on  the  way  amounted  to  fifty  horse,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  foot.     He  visited  the  province  con- 
taining the  city  of  Zacatula,  on  the  coast  of  the  South 
Sea,  sixty  leagues  below  ;  on  his  route  to  the  province  he 
established  peace  amongst  some  hostile  towns.     When 
he  reached  the  quarter  where  the  other  captain  had  been 
defeated,  he  found  many  warriors  collected,  expecting 
his  arrival,  and  thinking  to  have  the  same  success  with 
him  as  the  former  ;  and  thus  they  met.     But  it  pleased 
our  Lord  that  our  people  should  gain  the  victory  without 
the  loss  of  a  single  man,  although  many  were  wounded, 
both  men  and  horses  ;  and  the  enemy  paid  dearly  for 
the  mischief  they  had  committed.     This  chastisement 
had  a  good  effect,  as  without  further  hostilities  peace 
was  restored  to  the  whole  country ;  and  not  only  this 
province,  but  many  others  adjoining  it,  offered  them- 
selves as   vassals  of  your  imperial  Majesty,  namely, 
Aliman,  Colimonte,  and  Ceguatan.     He  wrote  me  from 
thence  an  account  of  all  that  had  occurred  ;  and  I  sent 
him  directions  to  seek  a  good  site  on  which  he  should 


LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

establish  a  town,  and  give  it  the  name  of  Coliman,  from 
the  province  ;  and  I  forwarded  him  a  list  of  alcaldes 
and  regidores  for  it.  I  also  directed  him  to  visit  the 
towns  and  people  of  those  provinces,  and  bring  me  a 
particular  description  of  the  country  so  far  as  he  could 
obtain  a  knowledge  of  it ;  which  he  accordingly  brought 
on  his  return,  together  with  specimens  of  pearls  that  he 
found.  In  the  name  of  your  Majesty  I  transferred  the 
population  of  the  villages  in  these  provinces  to  the  new 
town,  where  I  left  a  force  of  twenty-five  horse  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  foot.  The  relation  he  brought  of 
the  country  contained  information  of  an  excellent  harbor 
which  was  found  on  that  coast,  which  afforded  me  much 
pleasure,  as  there  are  few  harbors  there  ;  and  he  also 
brought  me  an  account  of  the  lords  of  the  province  of 
Ciguatan,  in  which  there  is  affirmed  to  be  an  island 
inhabited  by  women  without  any  men,  although  at  cer- 
tain times  they  are  visited  by  men  from  the  main  land  ; 
and  if  the  women  bear  female  children  they  are  pro- 
tected, but  if  males  they  are  driven  from  their  society. 
This  island  is  ten  days'  journey  from  that  province,  and 
many  have  gone  there  and  seen  it.*  They  also  tell  me 
it  is  very  rich  in  pearls  and  gold  ;  respecting  which  I 
shall  labor  to  obtain  the  truth,  and  to  give  your  Majesty 
a  full  account  of  it. 

On  my  way  from  the  province  of  Panuco,  there  met 
me  at  a  city  called  Tuzapan  two  Spaniards,  whom  to- 
gether with  several  natives  of  the  city  of  Temextitan  and 
others  of  the  province  of  Soconusco,  (which  is  on  the 
upper  part  of  the  coast  of  the  South  Sea,  towards  where 


*  California  is  supposed  to  be  the  island  referred  to,  afterwards  discovered  to 
be  a  peninsula. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  381 

Pedrarias  Davila,  a  governor  of  your  Highness,  resides,)* 
I  had  sent  to  certain  cities  of  which  I  had  long  heard, 
called  Utlatlan  and  Guatemala,  distant  two  hundred 
leagues  from  this  great  city  of  Temextitan,  and  seventy 
leagues  beyond  the  province  of  Soconusco.  With  these 
Spaniards  came  about  a  hundred  natives  of  those  cities, 
by  the  command  of  their  caciques,  offering  themselves  as 
vassals  and  subjects  of  your  Imperial  Majesty,  whom  I 
received  in  your  royal  name ;  and  I  assured  them,  that 
as  long  as  they  proved  true  to  their  professions,  they 
would  be  well  treated  and  favored  by  me,  and  those 
associated  with  me,  in  the  royal  name  of  your  Highness. 
I  gave  them,  as  presents  for  themselves  and  their  lords 
such  things  as  I  had  which  are  held  in  esteem  amongst 
them,  and  I  determined  to  send  with  them  two  other 
Spaniards,  in  order  to  make  the  necessary  provision  for 
their  journey.  Since  then  I  have  been  informed  by  some 
Spaniards  whom  I  have  in  the  province  of  Soconusco, 
that  those  cities  with  their  provinces,-  and  another  called 
Chicapan,  in  their  neighborhood,  no  longer  entertain  the 
loyal  disposition  they  at  first  manifested,  but  have  even 
annoyed  some  towns  of  Soconusco,  because  they  are 
friendly  to  us.  On  the  other  hand,  however,  the  Chris- 
tians write  that  they  have  sent  messengers  to  them,  and 
that  they  disclaim  those  acts,  which  they  say  were  com- 
mitted by  others  ;  and  in  order  to  ascertain  the  truth  of 
the  matter,  I  have  despatched  Pedro  de  Alvarado  with 
eighty  and  more  horse  and  two  hundred  foot,  amongst 
whom  are  many  bowmen,  musketeers,  and  four  pieces 
of  artillery,  with  an  abundance  of  munitions  and  powder. 

*  Pedrarias  Davila  was  then  governor  of  the  isthmus  of  Darien,  and  is  noted  as 
the  rival  of  Balboa,  the  discoverer  of  the  South  Sea,  who  was  executed  by  his 
orders  in  1517. 

49 


382  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

At  the  same  time  I  have  fitted  out  a  naval  armament, 
under  the  command  of  one  Cristobal  Dolid,  who  came 
over  with  me,  to  coast  along  the  North  Sea,  and  establish 
a  colony  at  the  point  or  cape  of  Hibueras  [Honduras,] 
sixty  leagues  from  the  Bay  of  Ascension,  which  is  to  the 
windward  of  what  they  call  Yucatan,  and  on  the  coast 
above  Terra-Firma  towards  Darien.  The  object  of  this 
expedition  was  to  obtain  information  about  the  country, 
which  is  represented  to  be  very  rich,  and  also  in  reference 
to  the  opinion  entertained  by  many  pilots,  that  through 
this  bay  a  passage  may  be  found  to  the  other  sea  ;  the 
thing  that  of  all  others  in  the  world  I  most  desire  to  meet 
with,  on  account  of  the  great  service  that  would  result 
from  it  to  your  Imperial  Majesty, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  381 


CHAPTER  III. 

While  these  two  captains  were  on  the-  point  of  set- 
ting forth  on  their  respective  routes,  a  messenger  arrived 
from  Santistevan  del  Puerto,  the  town  I  had  settled  on 
the  river  Panuco,  who  brought  me  advices  from  the  al- 
caldes of  that  place,  that  the  Adelantado  Francisco  de 
Garay  had  arrived  at  thaS  river  with  a  force  consisting 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  horse,  four  hundred  foot, 
and  much  artillery,  and  that  he  bore  th®  title  of  gover- 
nor of  the  country,  as  he  had  informed  the  natives  by 
means  of  an  interpreter  he  brought  with  him  ;  to  whom 
he  had  announced  his  intention  to  avenge  the  wrongs 
they  had  suffered  from  me  in  the  past  war,  declaring  to 
them  that  they  should  go  with  him  to  drive  out  the  Span- 
iards I  had  posted  there,,  and  any  others  I  should  send, 
in  all  which  matters  he  said  he  would  aid  them,  and 
many  other  scandalous  things,  which  had  produced  some 
disturbance  amongst  the  natives.  They  added  that  in 
confirmation  of  my  suspicions  of  a  confederacy  between 
him,  the  admiral,  and  Diego  de  Velasquez,*  a  ship  had 
arrived  in  the  river  a  few  days  after  from  the  island  of 
Cuba,  in  which  came  certain  friends  and  servants  of 
Diego  Velasquez,  and  a  servant  of  the  Bishop  of  Bur- 
gos, (the  latter  being  said  to  have  been  appointed  factor 
of  Yucatan,)  nearly  the  whole  party  consisting  of  ser- 
vants and  relatives  of  Diego  Velasquez,  and  servants  of 
the  admiral.      As  soon  as  this  intelligence  reached  me, 

*  See  above,  page  372.. 


3S4  LETTERS  OF  CORTES. 

although  I  was  suffering  from  an  injury  to  my  arm  occa- 
sioned by  a  fall  from  a  horse,  and  kept  my  bed,  I  deter- 
mined to  go  and  meet  him  in  order  to  prevent  any  dis- 
turbance, and  immediately  sent  forward  Pedro  de  Al- 
va rado  with  all  the  force  prepared  for  his  intended  expe- 
dition, proposing  to  set  out  myself  in  two  days.  When 
my  bed  and  every  thing  were  already  on  the  road,  and 
had  reached  a  place  ten  leagues  from  this  city,  where  I 
was  to  go  the  next  day  to  sleep,  there  arrived  a  messen- 
ger from  the  town  of  Vera  Cruz  about  midnight,  who 
brought  me  letters  received  by  a  ship  arrived  from  Spain, 
containing  an  order  signed  with  the  royal  name  of  your 
Majesty,  commanding  the  said  Francisco  de  Garay  to 
desist  from  any  interference  on  that  river  where  I  had 
established  a  colony,  as  your  Majesty's  service  was 
promoted  by  my  holding  it  in  your  royal  name  ;  for 
which  I  kiss  the  feet  of  your  imperial  Majesty  a  hundred 
thousand  times.  On  the  reception  of  this  order  my 
journey  was  at  an  end,  which  was  not  a  little  advantage- 
ous to  my  health,  as  I  had  not  slept  for  sixty  days,  and 
suffered  much  pain  }  had  I  gone  at  that  time,  my  life 
would  have  been  in  danger,  but  I  did  not  regard  this, 
esteeming  it  better  to  die  on  that  journey  than  by  saving 
my  life  to  be  the  cause  of  great  scandal  and  sedition,  and 
of  the  loss  of  many  lives,  which  would  be  much  noised 
about.  I  immediately  despatched  Diego  Docampo, 
alcalde  mayor,  with  the  order,  to  follow  after  Pedro  de 
Alvarado,  for  whom  I  gave  him  a  letter,  directing  him 
by  no  means  to  approach  the  place  where  the  Adelan- 
tado's  people  were,  lest  it  should  give  rise  to  some  dis- 
turbance. I  also  directed  the  alcalde  mayor  to  notify 
the  Adelantado  of  the  order,  and  immediately  inform  me 
of  his  answer, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  385 

The  alcalde  mayor  departed  with  the  greatest  possible 
haste,  and  reached  the  province  of  Guastecas,  through 
which  Pedro  de  Alvarado  had  passed,  who  had  already 
gone  into  the  interior  of  the  country.     As  soon  as  Pedro 
de  Alvarado  heard  of  the  arrival  of  the  alcalde  mayor, 
and  that  I  had  remained  at  home,  he  informed  him  that 
acaptain  of  Francisco  de  Garay,  named  Gonzalo  Dovalle 
was  ravaging  the  towns  of  the  province  with  twenty-two 
horse,  and  creating  some  disturbance  amongst  the  people  ; 
that  he  had  placed  scouts  along  the  road  where  Alvarado 
would  have  occasion  to  pass,  which  led  the  latter  to  be- 
lieve that  Dovalle  meant  to  attack  him  ;  and  in  conse- 
quence thereof  Alvarado  had  placed  his  troops  in  the  best 
order,  until  he  arrived  at  a  place  called  Laxas,  where  he 
found  Dovalle  with  his  men,  with  whom  he  at  once  obtain- 
ed an  interview,  when  he  told  him  that  he  was  acquainted 
with  his  movements,  which  had  excited   his    surprise ; 
since  the  intention  of  the  governor  and  his  captains  neither 
was,   nor  had  been,  to  attack  them,  or  do  them  any 
injury,  but  rather  to  favor  them,  and  provide  whatever 
their  necessities  might  require  ;  that  since  this  was  so,  in 
order  that  they  might  feel  secure,  and  no  offence  be  offer- 
ed on  one  side  or  the  other,  he  begged  it  as  a  favor  that 
the  arms  and  horses  of  his  men  should  be  deposited  with 
him  until  matters  were  finally  settled.     Whereupon  Gon- 
zalo Dovalle  disclaimed  what  had  been  alleged  concern- 
ing his  movements,  but  professed  a  willingness  to  do  as 
was  proposed  ;  so  the  two  captains  and  most  of  their  men 
came  together  without  any  feelings  of  hostility,  or  distrust, 
and  shared  with  one  another  their  food  and  means  of  en- 
joyment.    As  soon  as   the  alcalde  mayor  knew  this,  he 
sent  a  secretary  of  mine  that  he  had   taken  with  him, 
named  Francisco  de  Ordufia,  to  the  place  where  the  cap- 


386  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

tains,  Pedro  de  Alvarado  and  Gonzalo  Dovalle,  were 
encamped,  with  an  order  to  take  up  the  deposit,  and  re- 
store the  arms  and  horses  to  each  one,  informing  them 
that  it  was  my  intention  to  assist  and  befriend  them  in 
every  way  their  necessities  might  require,  without  giving 
any  uneasiness,  or  disturbing  the  country  by  our  dissen- 
sions. At  the  same  time  the  alcalde  mayor  sent  another 
order  to  Alvarado,  bidding  him  grant  them  every  indul- 
gence, and  not  to  interfere  in  any  way  with  their  affairs 
or  cause  them  any  trouble  ;  with  which  he  accordingly 
complied. 

At  this  time,  most  powerful  Sire,  the  ships  of  the  Ade- 
lantado  lay  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Panuco,  near  the 
sea,  in  an  offensive  attitude  towards  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Santistevan,  which  I  had  built  there;  but  it 
was  three  leagues  up  the  river  to  the  place  where  the 
ships  that  arrived  at  the  port  were  accustomed  to  anchor. 
On  this  account  Pedro  de  Vallejo,  my  lieutenant  in  the 
town,  in  order  to  guard  against  any  danger  from  the  ships, 
required  their  captains  and  masters  to  ascend  to  the  har- 
bor, and  anchor  there  in  a  peaceable  manner  without  dis- 
turbing the  country ;  at  the  same  time  directing  that  if 
they  had  any  orders  from  your  Majesty  to  enter  or  settle 
the  country,  or  of  any  other  purport,  they  should  exhibit 
them,  and  promising  to  obey  them  when  exhibited  in  re- 
lation to  whatever  your  Majesty  should  command.  To 
this  requisition  those  officers  gave  a  formal  answer,  the 
conclusion  of  which  was  that  they  refused  to  do  what 
was  required  by  the  lieutenant.  The  latter  therefore  is- 
sued a  second  order  of  a  similar  character,  directed  to 
the  same  officers,  to  which  a  penalty  was  added  ;  to  this 
they  replied  as  before.  Thus  they  remained  with  their 
ships  for  more  than  two  months  at  the  mouth  of  the  river, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  387 

giving  rise  to  difficulties  amongst  the  Spaniards  who  re- 
sided there,  as  well  as  the  natives.  At  length  one  Cas- 
tromocho,  master  of  one  of  the  ships,  and  Martin  de  San 
Juan  Guipuscuano,  master  of  another,  sent  privately  their 
messengers  to  the  lieutenant,  informing  him  that  they  de- 
sired peace  and  would  obey  the  commands  of  the  ma- 
gistrate ;  they  wished  therefore  the  lieutenant  to  come  on 
board  of  the  two  ships,  where  they  would  receive  him 
and  comply  with  his  orders ;  adding  that  they  would  find 
means  to  induce  the  other  ships  to  adopt  the  same  course. 
The  lieutenant  therefore  resolved  to  go  with  only  five 
men  to  those  ships ;  and  when  he  reached  them,  he  was 
received  by  the  masters  ;  from  thence  he  sent  to  the  cap- 
tain Juan  de  Grijalva,  the  commander  of  the  whole  arma- 
ment, who  was  on  board  of  the  flag-ship,  requiring  him 
to  yield  obedience  to  the  orders  of  which  the  lieutenant 
had  before  given  him  notice.  He  not  only  refused,  but 
directed  the  other  ships  to  join  his  own,  and  when  they 
had  all  collected  around  the  flag-ship,  except  the  two 
abovementioned,  he  ordered  the  captains  to  fire  their 
guns  upon  two  ships  until  they  sunk  them.  As  the  order 
was  publicly  given,  in  the  hearing  of  all,  the  lieutenant 
commanded  the  guns  of  the  two  ships  to  be  got  ready  in 
their  defence,  which  was  accordingly  done.  At  this  mo- 
ment the  officers  of  the  ships  around  the  flag-ship  refused 
to  obey  the  orders  of  Juan  de  Grijalva,  and  in  the  mean 
time  Grijalva  sent  a  notary  named  Vicente  Lopez  to  the 
lieutenant ;  after  he  had  delivered  his  message,  the  lieu- 
tenant answered,  justifying  the  course  he  had  taken,  and 
declaring  that  he  had  come  with  pacific  intentions,  in 
order  to  prevent  difficulties  that  would  ensue  from  the 
ships  lying  outside  of  the  harbor  in  which  it  was  cus- 
tomary for  vessels  to  anchor,  being  like  pirates  in  a  sus- 


388  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

picious  place,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  descent 
upon  his  Majesty's  territory,  which  had  an  unfavorable 
appearance  ;  with  other  remarks  of  a  similar  character. 
Such  was  the  effect  of  the  interview  on  the  notary,  that 
he  returned  with  the  answer  to  Captain  Grijalva,  and  in- 
formed him  of  all  the  lieutenant  had  said,  at  the  same 
time  endeavoring  to  induce  the  captain  to  obey  his  orders, 
since  it  was  evident  that  the  lieutenant  was  a  magistrate 
appointed  by  your  Majesty  for  this  province,  whereas 
Grijalva  knew,  that  neither  on  the  part  of  Francisco  de 
Garay  nor  his  own,  had  any  order  been  as  yet  produced 
which  the  lieutenant  and  the  other  burghers  of  Santiste- 
van  were  bound  to  recognise ;  and  that  it  was  a  very 
ugly  business  for  them  to  approach  the  territory  of  your 
imperial  Majesty  with  their  ships  like  pirates.  Influenced 
by  these  arguments,  Captain  Grijalva  and  the  officers  of 
the  other  ships  submitted  to  the  orders  of  the  lieutenant, 
and  went  up  the  river  to  the  usual  anchorage  ground. 
When  they  had  arrived  within  the  harbor,  the  lieutenant 
directed  Juan  de  Grijalva  to  be  arrested,  on  account  of 
his  disobedience  of  orders.  Butwhen  my  alcalde  mayor 
heard  of  his  arrest,  he  immediately  on  the  day  after  com- 
manded him  to  be  set  at  liberty,  and  together  with  the 
rest  of  the  party  to  be  kindly  treated,  forbidding  any  thing 
belonging  to  them  to  be  touched ;  which  order  was  ac- 
cordingly carried  into  effect. 

The  alcalde  mayor  also  wrote  to  Francisco  de  Garay, 
who  was  in  another  port  ten  or  twelve  leagues  distant, 
informing  him  that  I  was  unable  to  visit  him,  but  that  I 
had  sent  him  with  full  power  to  settle  our  affairs,  by  ex- 
amining the  authority  under  which  each  acted,  and 
making  such  a  conclusion  as  would  best  promote  the 
service  of  your   Majesty.     As   soon   as   Francisco  de 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  389 

Garay,  saw  the  letter  of  the  alcalde  mayor,  he  imme- 
diately came  where  he  was,  and  was  well  received,  both 
he  and  his  men  being  supplied  with  whatever  their  ne- 
cessities required.  Both  then  conferred  together  and 
examined  the  several  orders,  especially  the  one  your 
Majesty  had  done  me  the  favor  to  grant,  when  the  Ade- 
lantado  professed  his  willingness  to  acquiesce,  and  agreed 
to  take  his  ships  and  men,  and  seek  some  other  place 
for  his  colony  beyond  the  limits  designated  in  your  Ma- 
jesty's order.  He  also  requested  that  as  my  disposition 
was  friendly  towards  him,  the  alcalde  mayor  would  as- 
sist him  in  collecting  his  people,  as  many  of  those  he 
brought  with  him  desired  to  remain  behind,  and  others 
were  out  of  the  way ;  and  likewise  that  he  would  ena- 
ble him  to  obtain  the  necessary  supplies  for  his  ships  and 
men.  The  alcalde  mayor  immediately  provided  every 
thing  he  asked,  and  made  proclamation  in  the  port  where 
were  most  of  those  attached  to  either  party,  that  all  per- 
sons who  had  arrived  in  the  armada  of  the  Adelantado 
Francisco  de  Garay  should  follow  and  rejoin  him,  under 
the  penalty,  if  a  cavalier,  of  losing  his  arms  and  horse, 
and  being  surrendered  as  a  prisoner  to  the  said  Adelan- 
tado ;  and  if  a  foot-soldier,  of  receiving  a  hundred  lashes, 
and  being  surrendered  in  like  manner. 

The  Adelantado  also  requested  the  alcalde  mayor,  in 
consequence  of  some  of  his  men  having  sold  their  arms 
and  horses  in  the  port  of  Santistevan  and  elsewhere, 
that  he  would  cause  them  to  be  returned,  since  his  peo- 
ple would  be  of  no  use  to  him  without  their  arms  and 
horses  ;  and  the  alcalde  mayor  had  proclamation  made 
in  all  parts  where  the  arms  or  horses  of  the  people  might 
be,  and  caused  those  who  had  purchased  them  to  re- 
turn them  all  to  the  said  Adelantado.     At  his  desire  also 

50 


390  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

the  alcalde  mayor  stationed  alguazils  on  the  roads  to  ar- 
rest fugitives,  and  deliver  them  up  as  prisoners  ;  many 
of  whom  were  accordingly  taken  and  delivered  into  cus- 
tody. He  also  sent  the  alguazil  mayor  with  one  of  my 
secretaries  to  the  town  and  port  of  Santistevan,*  for  the 
purpose  of  using  similar  diligence  in  making  proclama- 
tion, and  collecting  the  people  who  were  absent  and  de- 
livering them  up,  as  well  as  to  obtain  supplies  to  the 
greatest  possible  extent  for  the  ships  of  the  Adelantado. 
All  this  was  effected  with  the  greatest  diligence,  and  the 
Adelantado  set  out  for  the  port  to  embark ;  but  the  al- 
calde mayor  remained  behind  with  his  people  in  order 
not  to  increase  the  number  at  the  port,  and  the  better  to 
furnish  the  supplies  of  provisions  ;  and  he  continued 
there  six  or  seven  days  to  see  that  his  orders  were  all 
obeyed,  as  there  was  a  deficiency  of  provisions.  He 
then  wrote  to  the  Adelantado  to  know  if  he  had  any 
commands,  as  he  was  about  to  return  to  the  city  of 
Mexico,f  where  I  resided ;  the  Adelantado  immediately 
sent  a  messenger  to  him,  by  whom  he  represented  that 
he  found  himself  in  no  condition  to  depart ;  that  he  had 
lost  six  of  his  ships,  and  those  he  retained  were  unfit  for 
service  ;  and  that  he  was  engaged  in  drawing  up  a  state- 
ment of  the  case  in  order  to  apply  to  me,  since  he  had 
not  the  means  to  enable  him  to  leave  the  country.  He 
also  represented  his  people  as  disputing  his  authority 
over  them,  and  denying  their  obligation  to  follow  him, 
having  appealed  from  the  orders  of  my  alcalde  mayor, 
with  which   they  contended   they  were  not   obliged  to 

*  This  town  afterwards  lost  the  name  of  Santistevan  (St.  Stephen ;)  as  it 
stood  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  Capt  Lyon  errs  in  identifying  its  site  with  that 
of  the  present  town  of  Panuco,  which  is  eighty  miles  above.  Lyon's  Journal, 
&c.  I.  59. 

t  "Ciudad  de  Mexico ;"  this  is  the  only  instance  in  which  the  name  of  Mexico 
is  applied  to  the  citythat  occurs  in  these  Despatches. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  391 

comply  for  sixteen  or  seventeen  reasons  that  they  as- 
signed. One  of  these  was,  that  some  of  those  who  ac- 
companied him  had  died  of  hunger ;  with  others  of  no 
great  weight,  which  they  addressed  to  him  personally. 
He  likewise  stated  that  all  the  diligence  used  in  detain- 
ing his  men  proved  of  no  avail ;  that  those  who  were 
with  him  at  night  disappeared  in  the  morning,  and  those 
one  day  delivered  up  as  prisoners,  regained  their  liberty 
the  next  day ;  and  that  two  hundred  men  had  deserted 
in  one  night.  Finally,  he  begged  in  the  most  piteous 
terms  that  the  alcalde  mayor  would  not  set  out  until  he 
had  arrived,  for  he  wished  to  accompany  him  for  the  pur- 
pose of  meeting  me  at  this  city ;  and  that  if  he  left  him 
behind,  he  thought  he  should  hang  himself  from  vexa- 
tion. 

The  alcalde  mayor  on  seeing  his  letter  resolved  to  wait 
for  him  ;  he  arrived  in  two  days,  as  he  had  written ; 
when  a  messenger  was  despatched  to  me,  by  whom  the 
alcalde  mayor  apprised  me  of  the  Adelantado's  coming 
to  see  me  in  this  city,  and  said  that  they  would  travel 
slowly  until  they  reached  the  town  of  Cicoaque,  within 
the  limits  of  these  provinces,  where  he  would  await  my 
answer.  The  Adelantado  also  wrote  me,  describing 
the  miserable  condition  of  his  ships,  and  the  bad  con- 
duct of  his  men,  and  declared  his  belief  that  I  had  it  in 
my  power  to  remedy  his  difficulties  by  providing  him 
with  men  and  other  things  of  which  he  was  in  want,  but 
that  he  knew  he  could  not  expect  assistance  from  any 
other  quarter ;  he  had  therefore  determined  to  come  to 
me  in  person.  At  the  same  time  he  offered  me  his  oldest 
son  together  with  all  that  he  possessed,  and  hoped  that 
he  should  be  able  to  make  him  my  son-in-law,  by 
marrying  hira  to  my  little  daughter.     In  the  mean  time 


392  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

it  appearing  to  the  alcalde  mayor,  when  on  the  eve  of 
his  departure  for  this  city,  that  certain  suspicious  per- 
sons, the  friends  and  servants  of  Diego  Velasquez,  had 
arrived  in  the  armada  of  Francisco  de  Garay,  who  had 
shown  themselves  opposed  to  my  operations ;  and  be- 
lieving that  it  would  not  be  safe  to  leave  them  in  the 
province,  as  they  would  be  likely  by  their  freedom  of 
speech  to  excite  uneasiness  and  disaffection  amongst  the 
people  ;  in  conformity  to  a  certain  royal  order  which  I 
had  received  from  your  Majesty,  requiring  all  disorderly 
persons  to  leave  the  country,  he  commanded  them  to 
depart  out  of  the  land  ;  amongst  whom  were  Gonzalo  de 
Figueroa,  Alonso  de  Mendoza,  Antonio  de  la  Cerda,  Juan 
de  Avila,  Lorenzo  de  Ulloa,  Taborda,  Juan  de  Grijalva, 
Juan  de  Medina,  and  others.  After  this  they  set  out 
and  reached  the  town  of  Cicoaque,  where  the  alcalde 
mayor  received  my  answer  to  his  letters,  in  which  I  ex- 
pressed my  satisfaction  at  the  coming  of  the  Adelantado, 
assuring  him  that  on  his  arrival  in  this  city  I  would  treat 
with  him  with  the  greatest  good  will  on  all  the  subjects 
mentioned  in  his  letter,  and  that  every  thing  should  be 
done  conformably  to  his  wishes.  At  the  same  time  I 
took  care  that  every  provision  should  be  made  for  his 
personal  wants  on  the  road,  directing  the  caciques  of  the 
towns  through  which  he  would  pass  to  furnish  every 
thing  in  the  most  ample  manner.  When  the  Adelantado 
arrived  in  this  city  I  received  him  with  all  the  kindness, 
both  in  word  and  deed,  that  I  could  show  to  a  real  bro- 
ther ;  for  I  was  truly  grieved  at  the  loss  of  his  ships  and 
the  desertion  of  his  men,  and  freely  offered  to  do  all  in 
my  power  for  his  relief.  As  the  Adelantado  had  ex- 
pressed a  strong  desire  for  the  fulfilment  of  what  he  had 
written  to  me  respecting  the  marriage  abovementioned, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  393 

and  importuned  me  with  great  earnestness  on  the  sub- 
ject, I  determined  to  comply  with  his  wishes,  by  having 
drawn  up  with  the  consent  of  both  parties  and  much 
formality,  under  oath,  certain  articles  for  the  conclusion 
of  the  marriage,  and  the  performance  of  the  agreements 
on  both  sides  ;  especially  providing  that  your  Majesty 
should  be  assured  of  its  being  done  in  a  loyal  manner.* 
Thus  besides  the  feelings  inspired  by  our  old  friendship, 
the  connexion  entered  into  by  our  children  gave  rise  to 
others,  producing  a  mutual  good  will  and  a  desire  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  one  another,  and  especially  of 
the  Adelantado. 

I  have  already,  most  powerful  Sire,  related  to  your 
Catholic  Majesty  the  great  exertions  made  by  my  alcalde 
mayor  to  collect  the  dispersed  people  of  the  Adelantado ; 
these  efforts,  however,  proved  insufficient  to  remove  the 
disaffection  that  prevailed  amongst  them  all ;  for  believ- 
ing that  they  would  be  compelled  to  go  with  him  in  obe- 
dience to  the  order  and  proclamation  that  had  been  made, 
they  retired  into  the  interior  of  the  country,  and  dispersed 
themselves  about  in  different  places,  in  small  parties  of 
three  or  six  persons,  with  such  privacy  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  discover  their  retreats  or  bring  them  in.  This 
state  of  things  led  to  difficulties  with  the  Indians  of  the 
province ;  the  sight  of  the  Spaniards  scattered  in  various 
directions,  and  the  disorders  committed  by  them  in  seiz- 
ing the  native  women  and  their  supplies  of  food  by 
force,  with  other  outrages  and  irregularities,  caused  the 


*  The  daughter  of  Cortes  who  was  married  to  a  son  of  Garay,  was  by  his  first 
marriage  at  Cuba.  The  second  wife  of  Cortes,  to  whom  he  is  said  to  have  been 
privately  married,  was  Dona  Marina,  his  Indian  interpreter,  but  some  deny  that 
he  was  married  to  her  ;  his  third  wife  was  Doha  Juana  de  Zuniga,  daughter  of 
the  Count  de  Aguilar,  and  niece  of  the  Duke  de  Bexar. — L. 


394  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

whole  land  to  rise,  in  the  belief  that  the  Spaniards  were 
under  separate  leaders,  as  the  Adelantado  had  proclaim- 
ed on  his  arrival  in  the  country  through  an  interpreter 
whom  the  Indians  could  understand,  as  I  have  already 
stated.  The  natives  had  cunning  enough  to  inform  them- 
selves first  how  and  where  the  Spaniards  were  to  be 
found,  and  then  fell  upon  them  by  night  or  day  in  the 
villages  where  they  were  dispersed ;  and  by  this  means 
taking  them  unawares  and  unprovided  with  arms,  they 
destroyed  great  numbers  of  them.  Thus  their  boldness 
rose  to  such  a  height  that  they  appeared  before  the  town 
of  Santistevan  del  Puerto,  which  had  been  settled  in  your 
Majesty's  name,  and  attacked  it  with  so  much  spirit  that 
the  inhabitants  were  alarmed  lest  the  place  should  fall 
into  their  hands  ;  as  it  would  have  done,  had  not  the  peo- 
ple been  prepared  to  receive  them,  rallying  together  at 
a  point  where  resistance  could  be  offered  in  the  most 
effectual  manner,  from  which  they  made  several  sallies 
upon  the  enemy  and  put  them  to  route.  When  affairs 
had  reached  this  pass,  I  received  news  of  what  had  taken 
place  by  a  messenger,  a  foot-soldier,  who  had  escaped 
by  flight  from  these  scenes  of  disorder,  and  informed  me 
that  the  whole  province  of  Panuco  had  revolted,  and  that 
many  Spaniards  had  been  slain,  especially  of  the  men 
left  there  by  the  Adelantado,  together  with  some  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  I  had  built  there  in  your  Majesty's 
name  ;  and  from  the  extent  of  the  insurrection  I  was  led 
to  believe  that  not  a  single  Castilian  had  been  left  alive. 
God  our  Lord  knows  what  were  my  feelings  on  the  re- 
ceipt of  this  intelligence,  especially  when  I  reflected  that 
no  part  of  this  country  had  cost  us  so  much,  which  we 
were  now  on  the  point  of  losing.  The  Adelantado  was  so 
much  affected  by  the  news,  as  well  on  account  of  his  ap- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  395 

pearing  to  have  been  the  cause  of  the  disaster,  as  from  his 
having  a  son,  and  all  that  he  possessed,  in  that  province, 
that  his  grief  caused  him  to  be  seized  with  an  illness,  of 
which  he  died  three  days  after. 

The  Spaniard  who  brought  the  first  news  of  the  revolt 
of  the  people  of  Panuco,  gave  no  other  account  of  what 
had  taken  place  than  that  he  with  three  cavaliers  and  a 
foot-soldier  had  been  attacked  while  entering  a  town 
called  Tacetuco,  [Tanjuco,]*  by  the  inhabitants  of  that 
place,  who  killed  two  of  the  cavaliers  and  the  foot-sol- 
diers, with  the  horse  of  the  other  cavalier,  who  had  him- 
self escaped  together  with  our  informant  under  cover  of 
the  night ;  and  that  they  had  seen  consumed  by  fire  the 
quarters  occupied  by  the  lieutenant  in  that  town  with 
fifteen  horsemen  and  forty  foot,  where  they  were  expect- 
ed, and  from  the  appearances  there  exhibited  he  be- 
lieved all  of  them  had  been  slain.  In  order  that  your 
Majesty  might  be  more  particularly  informed  of  wha^ 
subsequently  occurred,  I  waited  six  or  seven  days  after 
obtaining  the  first  news  to  receive  further  intelligence  ; 
in  which  time  there  arrived  another  messenger  from  the 
lieutenant,  who  remained  in  the  town  of  Tenerteqnipa, 
which  is  subject  to  this  city,  and  situated  on  the  line  di- 
viding the  Mexican  territory  from  that  province.  The 
latter  wrote  me  that  he  was  in  the  town  of  Tacetuco  with 
fifteen  horse  and  forty  foot,  expecting  the  arrival  of  more 
men  who  were  to  join  his  force,  as  he  was  going  to  the 
other  side  of  the  river  to  reduce  certain  towns  that  proved 

*  Tanjuco  is  now  a  small  Indian  village  on  the  Panuco,  127  miles  from  its  mouth 
by  the  course  of  the  river,  and  about  half  that  distance  by  land.  Here  Captain 
Lyon  (in  1826)  heard  the  Guasteca  language  spoken.  Journal,  &c.  I.  73.  This 
intelligent  traveller  made  a  particular  examination  of  the  River  Panuco,  the  re- 
sults of  which  appear  in  the  Appendix  to  his  Journal. 


396  LETTERS    OF   CORTES. 

hostile  ;  and  that  during  the  night,  just  before  dawn,  his 
quarters  were  surrounded  by  a  multitude  of  people,  who 
set  them  on  fire ;  that  they  mounted  their  horses,  but 
with  so  much  haste,  being  taken  by  surprise,  supposing 
the  place  to  be  loyal,  as  it  had  been  until  then,  that  all 
were  killed  except  himself  and  two  other  cavaliers,  who 
escaped  by  flight.  His  horse  had  been  slain,  but  one  of 
the  cavaliers  had  taken  him  up  on  his  horse  behind 
himself,  and  they  had  thus  made  their  escape.  Two 
leagues  from  that  place  they  had  fallen  in  with  an  al- 
calde of  the  town  and  several  people,  from  whom  they 
received  shelter,  but  did  not  stop  long,  for  they  fled 
in  company  with  him  out  of  the  province.  He  had 
gained  no  intelligence  of  the  people  left  in  our  colony, 
nor  of  those  of  Francisco  de  Garay,  who  were  scattered 
in  different  directions,  none  of  whom  he  believed  re- 
mained alive;  for,  as  I  have  informed  your  Majesty, 
after  the  Adelantado  came  there  with  his  company,  and 
told  the  inhabitants  of  that  province  that  I  had  no  busi- 
ness with  them,  as  he  was  the  governor  whom  they 
ought  to  obey,  and  encouraged  them  to  unite  with  him 
in  driving  out  of  the  country  the  Spaniards  who  were 
there  under  my  authority,  they  had  annoyed  the  colony 
and  the  people  I  had  sent  to  it,  and  were  never  after- 
wards willing  to  serve  a  Spaniard.  They  had  murdered 
some  whom  they  met  alone  on  the  public  roads,  and  I 
believe  had  all  acted  in  concert  in  what  they  had  done ; 
for  they  had  attacked  the  lieutenant  and  the  people  who 
were  with  him,  and  probably  the  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
and  all  the  rest  who  were  dispersed  about  th£  villages, 
unsuspicious  of  any  insurrection,  as  the  natives  had  until 
then  served  them  without  the  slightest  symptoms  of  ill 
blood. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  397 

Having  satisfied  myself  by  this  fresh  intelligence  of 
the  existence  of  a  rebellion  amongst  the  natives  of  that 
province,  and  of  the  murder  of  several  Spaniards,  I  de- 
spatched with  the  greatest  possible  expedition  a  force 
consisting  of  fifty  cavaliers  and  one  hundred  foot,  inclu- 
ding bowmen  and  musketeers,  together  with  four  pieces 
of  artillery,  much  powder  and  other  munitions,  under 
the  command  of  a  Spanish  captain,*  accompanied  by 
two  natives  of  this  city,  each  at  the  head  of  fifteen  thou- 
sand of  their  countrymen.  I  directed  the  captain  to 
march  with  the  utmost  speed  to  that  province,  and  exert 
himself  to  enter  it  without  stopping  any  where,  unless  it 
should  be  absolutely  necessary,  until  he  arrived  at  the 
town  of  Santistevan  del  Puerto,  in  order  to  obtain  intel- 
ligence of  the  inhabitants  and  people  who  had  been  left 
there  ;  for  it  might  be  that  they  were  invested  by  the 
enemy,  and  in  want  of  succor.  The  captain  accordingly 
took  up  his  line  of  march  with  all  possible  expedition, 
and  entered  the  province  ;  he  encountered  the  enemy  in 
two  places,  but  God  our  Lord  granting  him  the  victory, 
he  pursued  his  way  until  he  reached  the  town,  where  he 
found  twenty-two  of  the  cavalry  and  one  hundred  foot 
besieged  by  the  enemy,  with  whom  they  had  fought  six 
or  seven  engagements  ;:  by  means  of  their  artillery  they 
had  so  far  succeeded  in  the  defence  of  the  place,  although 
unable  to  hold  out  much  longer,  even  with  the  greatest 
exertions  in  their  power ;  and  if  the  captain  I  had  sent 
there  had  delayed  his  march  three  days,  not  one  of  them 
would  have  survived,  for  they  were  already  perishing 
with  famine.  They  had  sent  to  Vera  Cruz  one  of  the 
vessels  belonging  to  Francisco  de  Garay,  to  carry  me  in- 

*Gonzalo  de  Sandoval. 

51 


398  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

telligence  of  their  situation,  (as  there  was  no  other  way,) 
and  to  bring  them  provisions,  which  they  obtained,  but 
not  until  after  they  had  been  relieved  by  the  force  I  sent. 
It  was  ascertained  that  the  people  left  by  the  Adelantado 
Francisco  de  Garay,  in  a  town  called  Tamiquil,  amount- 
ing to  about  one  hundred  Spanish  foot  and  horse,  had 
been  all  cut  off,  excepting  one  Indian  of  the  island  of 
Jamaica,  who  escaped  by  taking  refuge  in  the  mountains  ; 
from  him  they  learned  that  the  place  had  been  taken  in 
the  night.  It  was  found  that  there  had  perished  two 
hundred  and  ten  of  the  Adelantado's  people,  and  forty- 
three  of  the  citizens  left  by  me  in  Santistevan,  who  at 
the  time  of  the  massacre  were  visiting  the  villages  that 
had  been  entrusted  to  their  care ;  I  am  inclined  to  be- 
lieve that  there  were  even  more  of  the  Adelantado's  peo- 
ple, all  of  whom  were  not  recollected. 

The  force  in  the  province,  including  the  division  under 
the  captain  and  the  troops  with  the  lieutenant  and  alcalde, 
together  with  those  found  in  the  town,  comprised  only 
eighty  horse,  and  being  distributed  into  three  detach- 
ments, carried  the  war  with  such  vigor  against  the  enemy, 
that  about  four  hundred  of  the  caciques  and  principal 
persons  were  taken  prisoners,  without  reckoning  any  of 
the  lower  class,  all  of  whom,  I  mean  the  principal  per- 
sons, were  burned  according  to  the  sentence  of  the  ma- 
gistrate, after  they  had  confessed  themselves  to  have 
been  the  instigators  of  the  whole  war,  each  one  admitting 
that  he  had  been  present  at  the  death  of  Spaniards,  and 
concerned  in  killing  them.  This  done,  the  others  who 
had  been  made  prisoners  were  set  at  liberty,  and  restored 
to  their  villages  ;  and  the  captain  in  the  name  of  your 
Majesty  appointed  new  caciques  in  the  villages  from 
amongst  the  persons  to  whom  the  succession  belonged, 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  399 

according  to  their  rules  of  inheritance.*  At  this  time  I 
received  letters  from  the  captain  and  others  who  were 
with  him,  assuring  me  (blessed  be  our  Lord!)  that  the 
whole  province  had  been  restored  to  peace  and  security, 
and  the  natives  to  their  loyalty,  and  I  believe  the  peace 
will  continue  undisturbed,  the  old  cause  of  offence  being 
forgotten.  Your  imperial  Highness  may  well  believe 
that  these  people  are  of  a  restless  character  and  easily 
excited  by  any  novelty  or  seditious  movements  they 
might  witness ;  for  they  were  wont  also  to  rebel  against 
their  caciques,  and  would  always  join  in  any  attempts 
that  were  made  to  resist  their  authority. 

In  a  former  section,  most  Catholic  Sire,  I  stated  that 
at  the  time  I  heard  of  the  arrival  of  the  Adelantado 
Francisco  de  Garay  at  the  river  Panuco,  I  had  in  readi- 
ness a  fleet  of  vessels,  filled  with  men,  destined  for  the. 
cape  or  point  of  Hibueras,  [Honduras,]  and  the  causes 
that  led  to  the  proposed  expedition  ;  which  was,  how- 
ever, abandoned  on  the  arrival  of  the  Adelantado,  in 


*  The  late  R.  C.  Sands,  in  his  memoir  of  Cortes,  regards  it  as  a  matter  of 
doubt  how  many  suffered  death  on  this  occasion.  About  four  hundred  caciques 
and  principal  persons  were  made  prisoners,  "  all  of  whom,"  says  Cortes,  "  I 
mean  the  principal  persons,  were  burnt  according  to  the  sentence  of  the  magis- 
trate," &c.  From  this  statement  Sands  endeavors  to  make  it  appear  that  none  of 
the  caciques  suffered,  and  it  being  left  uncertain  what  was  the  relative  propor- 
tion of  "  principal  persons"  amongst  the  four  hundred,  it  was  also  uncertain 
how  many  were  put  to  death,  but  certainly  less  than  four  hundred.  In  support 
of  this  construction  he  quotes  Herrera,  who  says  that  only  thirty  were  burnt,  and 
the  rest  pardoned.  But  unluckily  for  this  view  of  the  matter,  Cortes  expressly 
adds  that  new  caciques  were  appointed  to  succeed  to  the  vacancies  created  at 
the  time;  so  that  his  expression,  "principal  persons,"  must  have  been  used  in 
the  second  instance  in  contradistinction  to  the  common  people,  and  thus  included 
the  caciques.  Gomara  confirms  this  account ;  who  also  describes  the  sentence 
and  execution  as  the  result  of  a  civil  process,  and  not  as  "  a  religious  exercise," 
as  stated  by  Sands.  The  relatives  of  the  criminals  were  made  to  witness  their 
fate  to  deter  them  from  similar  offences,  and  then  they  were  immediately  invested 
with  the  vacant  seignories. — Cron.  Nuev.  Esp.  Cap.  155. 


400  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

the  belief  that  should  he  undertake  to  possess  himself  of 
the  country,  the  whole  force  would  be  required  to  oppose 
him.  After  having  disposed  of  the  Adelantado,  although 
a  great  expense  would  be  incurred  for  the  pay  of  soldiers 
and  mariners,  and  to  procure  supplies  for  the  ships  and 
the  troops  that  were  to  sail  in  them,  yet  it  appeared  to 
me  of  so  great  importance  to  your  Majesty's  service, 
that  I  pursued  the  enterprise  which  had  been  commenced, 
and  purchased  more  ships  than  I  already  had,  making 
in  all  five  large  ships  and  a  brigantine ;  and  I  raised 
four  hundred  men,  who  were  provided  with  artillery, 
munitions,  arms,  victuals,  and  every  thing  else  necessary 
for  them.  I  also  sent  two  agents  to  the  island  of  Cuba 
with  8000  pesos  of  gold,  to  purchase  horses  and  pro- 
visions, both  for  the  first  voyage,  and  to  be  in  readiness 
for  loading  the  ships  on  their  return  from  the  expedition, 
so  that  the  objects  of  it  might  not  fail  of  accomplishment 
for  the  want  of  any  thing,  as  well  as  to  avoid  oppressing 
the  natives  by  requiring  supplies  of  them  ;  that  we  might 
even  have  it  in  our  power  to  bestow  on  them  what  we 
should  take  with  us  rather  than  deprive  them  of  what 
they  possessed.  Thus  the  expedition  departed  from  the 
port  of  San  Juan  de  Chalchiqueca,*  on  the  11th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1524,  having  to  touch  at  the  Havana,  the  place  on 
the  island  of  Cuba  where  they  were  to  obtain  the  sup- 
plies that  were  wanting,  especially  horses,  and  for  the 
ships  to  rendezvous,  in  order  to  proceed  together  with 
the  blessing  of  God  from  thence  to  the  place  of  their 
destination.  On  reaching  the  first  port  in  the  country  to 
which  the  expedition  was  sent,  they  were  to  disembark 
men,  horses,  provisions  and  every  thing  else,  and  seek 
the  most  favorable  site  that  offered,  to  be  fortified  with 

*  The  Indian  name  of  the  present  Vera  Cruz. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  401 

artillery,  (of  which  they  took  a  great  deal  of  the  best 
kind,)  and  for  the  settlement  of  a  colony.     They  were 
then  to  despatch  at  once  three  of  the  larger  ships  to  the 
port  of  Trinidad  in  the  island  of  Cuba,  as  most  con- 
veniently situated  on  their  route,  and  where  an  agent 
was  to  be  left  to  get  ready  a  cargo  of  such  things  as 
they  required,  for  which  the  captain  should  send.     The 
smaller  ships  and  the  brigantine  with  the  principal  pilot 
and  a  cousin  of  mine  named  Diego  Hurtado,  for  captain, 
were  to  run  along  the  coast  of  the  Bay  of  Ascension  in 
quest  of  the  strait  that  was  believed  to  be  there,  and  to 
remain  until  they  had  explored  every  part  of  it ;  and  in 
case  they  discovered  the  strait,  they  should  return  to  the 
place  where  captain    Cristobal  Dolid  was,  and   from 
thence  despatch  one  of  the  ships  to  me  with  an  account 
of  the  discovery,  and  all  the  information  Cristobal  Dolid 
might  have  acquired  concerning  the  country,  and  also 
the  occurrences  of  the  expedition;  in  order  that  I  might 
be  able  to  forward  a  full  report  thereof  to  your  Catholic 
Majesty. 

I  also  stated  that  I  had  prepared  to  send  a  party  under 
the  command  of  Pedro  de  Alvarado  to  the  cities  of  Ucla- 
clan  [Dtlatlan]  and  Guatemala,  of  which  I  have  made 
mention  above,  and  to  some  other  provinces  concerning 
which  I  had  received  information,  that  were  situated 
farther  up  the  coast  than  the  former ;  this  proposed  ex- 
pedition was  also  suspended  by  the  arrival  of  the  Ade- 
lantado  Francisco  de  Garaj.  But  as  I  had  already  been 
at  much  expense,  both  in  horses,  arms,  artillery  and  mu- 
nitions, and  in  advancing  their  pay  to  the  men  ;  and  as  I 
believed  that  the  service  of  God  our  Lord  and  your  sa- 
cred Majesty  would  be  promoted  by  it,  since  from  the 
information  I  had   received  I  had   reason  to  think  we 


402  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

should  discover  lands  of  extraordinary  richness  and  ex- 
lent,  inhabited  by  many  different  people  ;  I  therefore  re- 
solved to  adhere  to  my  original  purpose,  and  besides 
availing  myself  of  the  provision  before  made  for  the  ex- 
pedition, I  re-appointed  Pedro  de  Alvarado  to  command 
it ;  whom  I  accordingly  despatched  fram  this  city  on  the 
sixth  of  December,  1523.  He  took  with  him  one  hundred 
and  twenty  cavaliers,  making  with  the  led  horses  one 
hundred  and  sixty  horses  in  all ;  and  three  hundred  foot, 
including  one  hundred  and  thirty  bowmen  and  mus- 
keteers ;  together  with  four  pieces  of  artillery  and  a  large 
quantity  of  powder  and  other  munitions  of  war.  ~  He  was 
accompanied  by  several  of  the  principal  natives,  both  of 
this  city  and  other  neighboring  cities,  who  were  followed 
by  their  people,  but  not  in  great  numbers,  on  account  of 
the  extensive  route  of  the  expedition. 

I  received  news  of  them  when  they  had  reached  the 
province  of  Tecuantepeque,  in  good  condition,  on  the 
twelfth  of  January;  may  it  please  our  Lord  to  guide 
them  all  in  the  way  to  promote  his  service;  for  I  believe 
fully,  that  being  devoted  to  his  service,  and  acting  in  the 
name  of  your  imperial  Majesty,  they  cannot  fail  to  have 
good  success.  I  also  charged  Pedro  de  Alvarado  to  take 
especial  care  to  draw  up  a  full  and  particular  account  of 
whatever  should  occur,  that  I  might  transmit  it  to  your 
Highness.  I  consider  it  certain,  according  to  the  infor- 
mation I  have  concerning  the  country  and  its  configuration, 
that  Pedro  de  Alvarado  and  Cristobal  Dolid  will  meet, 
unless  the  strait  divides  them.  Many  journeys  would 
have  been  made  to  that  country,  and  I  should  have  ac- 
quired much  knowledge  of  it,  had  not  the  disturbances 
occasioned  by  the  arrival  of  armadas  prevented.  I  assure 
your  sacred  Majesty  that,  owing  to  this  cause,  great  in- 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  403 

jury  has  arisen  to  the  royal  service,  as  well  in  our  not 
being  able  to  prosecute  the  discovery  of  many  countries, 
as  in  having  failed  to  amass  for  the  royal  exchequer  large 
amounts  of  gold  and  pearls  ;  but  henceforth,  if  I  have  no 
more  difficulties  of  a  similar  character  to  contend  with, 
I  shall  labor  to  restore  what  has  been  lost ;  for  I  shall  not 
spare  any  personal  exertions,  nor  hesitate  to  expend  my 
own  private  means,  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  object. 
And  I  assure  your  imperial  and  sacred  Majesty,  that  be- 
sides having  expended  all  that  I  possessed,  I  owe  your 
Majesty  for  the  rents  that  I  have  applied  to  these  charges, 
as  will  appear  when  the  accounts  are  rendered  to  your 
Majesty,  more  than  sixty  thousand  pesos  of  gold,  exclu- 
sive of  twelve  thousand  more  which  I  have  borrowed 
from  several  persons  for  my  domestic  expenses. 

I  have  mentioned  in  a  former  place  that  some  of  the 
provinces  adjacent  to  Espiritu  Santo,  and  those  tributary 
to  that  colony,  had  rebelled,  and  even  taken  the  lives  of 
several  Spaniards  ;  and  that  for  the  purpose  of  reducing 
them  to  the  royal  service  of  your  Majesty,  as  well  as  to 
lead  others  to  embrace  it,  the  people  in  that  colony  not 
being  adequate  to  the  undertaking,  I  had  sent  thither  a 
captain  with  thirty  horse  and  a  hundred  foot,  some  of 
whom  were  bowmen  and  musketeers,  with  two  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  a  sufficient  supply  of  munitions  and 
powder ;  who  accordingly  took  up  the  line  of  march  on 
the  eighth  of  December,  1523.  Up  to  the  present  time 
I  have  had  no  accounts  from  them ;  but  I  think  great 
advantages  will  be  derived  from  that  quarter  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God  our  Lord  and  your  Majesty,  and  that  valu- 
able discoveries  will  be  made ;  for  it  is  a  section  of 
country  that  lies  between  the  conquests  of  Pedro  de 
Alvarado  and  those  of  Cristobal  Dolid  ;  and  that  part  of 


404  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

it  lying  towards  the  North  Sea,  which  is  of  small  extent, 
has  been  of  a  pacific  character  until  lately,  and  in  the 
quiet  possession  of  your  Majesty  by  conquest.  When 
this  is  reduced,  there  will  be  more  than  four  hundred 
leagues  of  uninterrupted  territory  subject  to  the  royal 
service  in  the  north,  and  more  than  five  hundred  leagues 
in  the  south,  extending  from  one  sea  to  the  other  ;  all  of 
which  is  undisturbed  in  its  allegiance,  excepting  two 
provinces,  situated  in  the  midst  of  Teguantepeque,  Chi- 
nanta,  Guaxaca,  and  Guazaqualco,  by  which  four  pro- 
vinces they  are  bounded  on  all  sides.  The  inhabitants  of 
these  two  districts  are  called  Zaputecas  and  Mixes,  who 
occupy  a  country  so  rough  in  its  character  that  it  is  im- 
possible to  penetrate  it  even  on  foot ;  nevertheless  I 
made  two  attempts  to  conquer  them,  but  without  success. 
They  are  defended  by  strong  fortresses,  a  mountainous 
region,  and  substantial  weapons  ;  they  fight  with  lances 
from  twenty-five  to  thirty  palms  in  length,  very  stout 
and  well  made,  pointed  with  flint.  In  defending  them- 
selves they  killed  a  number  of  Spaniards  ;  and  they  are 
constantly  doing  mischief  to  their  neighbors  who  are 
vassals  of  your  Majesty,  attacking  and  burning  their  vil- 
lages by  night,  and  murdering  the  inhabitants ;  and 
many  of  the  adjoining  districts  have  been  induced  to 
throw  off  their  allegiance  and  become  their  confederates* 
As  I  had  made  so  little  progress  against  them,  although 
I  had  no  men  to  spare,  so  many  having  gone  on  different 
expeditions,  I  mustered  one  hundred  and  fifty  foot,  (the 
cavalry  not  being  able  to  manoeuvre  in  that  region,)  con- 
sisting for  the  most  part  of  bowmen  and  musketeers, 
together  with  four  pieces  of  artillery  and  the  necessary 
munitions,  the  bowmen  and  musketeers  being  provided 
in  the  most  liberal  manner.     I  placed  this  force  under 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  405 

the  command  of  Rodrigo  Rangel,  alcalde  of  this  city, 
who  went  on  a  similar  expedition  against  the  same  peo- 
ple a  year  ago,  but  on  account  of  its  being  the  rainy 
season  was  unable  to  effect  any  thing,  and  returned 
after  an  absence  of  two  months.  This  captain  set  out 
with  his  party  on  the  fifth  of  February  of  the  present 
year,  [1524]  ;  and  I  trust  that  by  the  favor  of  God, 
having  a  good  force,  and  going  at  a  favorable  season, 
accompanied  by  a  large  number  of  native  warriors, 
skilled  in  arms,  both  of  this  city  and  its  vicinity,  success 
will  attend  him  ;  from  which  no  little  service  will  re- 
dound to  the  imperial  crown  of  your  Highness,  as  the 
people  in  question  not  only  refuse  allegiance,  but  annoy 
those  who  are  well  disposed  towards  us.  The  country 
is  also  very  rich  in  mines  of  gold  j  and  the  neighboring 
people  say  that  when  they  are  reduced  they  will  go  and 
take  their  gold  from  them,  on  account  of  their  having 
been  so  rebellious  ;  although  often  required  to  yield  obe- 
dience, and  having  on  one  occasion  even  offered  them- 
selves as  vassals  of  your  Highness*  they  had  yet  killed 
several  Spaniards,  and  committed  so  much  mischief, 
that  they  deserved  to  be  made  slaves.  I  therefore 
ordered  that  those  who  were  taken  alive  should  be 
marked  with  the  brand  of  your  Highness,  and  after  set- 
ting apart  the  number  appertaining  to  your  Majesty,  the 
rest  should  be  distributed  amongst  their  conquerors. 
Your  royal  Excellency  may  consider  it  certain  that  the 
smallest  of  these  expeditions  which  have  just  been  fitted 
out  has  cost  me  more  than  5000  pesos  of  gold  ;  and  that 
the  two  under  Pedro  de  Alvarado  and  Cristobal  Dolid 
have  cost  me  more  than  50,000  pesos  in  money,  without 
reckoning  other  charges  on  my  estates,  which  are  not 
carried  to  the  account.     But  should  all  this  tend  to  ad- 

52 


406  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

vance  the  service  of  your  imperial  Majesty,  I  shall  con- 
sider it  a  sufficient  recompense,  even  if  it  require  also  a 
sacrifice  of  my  life,  which  shall  ever  be  at  your  Majesty's 
disposal. 

Both  in  a  former  despatch,  and  in  the  present  one,  I 
have  made  mention  to  your  Highness  of  four  ships,  which 
I  had  commenced  building  on  the  South  Sea ;  and  as  it 
is  a  long  time  since  the  work  was  commenced,  it  may 
appear  to  your  royal  Highness  that  I  have  been  some- 
what dilatory  in  not  having  them  completed  up  to  the 
present  time  ;  I  owe  your  sacred  Majesty,  therefore, 
some  explanation  of  the  delay.  One  cause  is  that  the 
South  Sea,  at  least  that  part  of  it  where  these  ships  are 
building,  is  two  hundred  leagues  and  more  distant  from 
the  ports  of  the  North  Sea,  where  every  thing  is  landed 
that  comes  into  New  Spain  ;  and  the  route  is  in  part  by 
mountain  passes,  and  across  large  and  full  rivers ;  and 
as  all  the  materials  necessary  in  building  must  be  brought 
from  thence,  there  being  no  other  way  to  obtain  them,  the 
transportation  which  I  have  caused  to  be  made  is  at- 
tended with  much  difficulty.  Add  to  this,  that  the  house 
at  the  port  where  the  ships  are  building,  which  contained 
all  the  requisite  materials,  such  as  sails,  cables,  rigging, 
nails,  anchors,  pitch,  j slush,  oakum,  tar,  oil,  &c,  one 
night  was  set  on  fire,  and  every  thing  consumed  except 
what  was  incapable  of  being  burnt.  I  am  now  em- 
ployed in  collecting  my  materials  anew  ;  for  a  vessel  ar- 
rived here  four  months  ago  from  Castile,  bringing  me 
every  thing  necessary  for  completing  the  ships,  for  which 
I  had  sent,  fearing  that  some  accident  might  happen.  I 
assure  your  imperial  Majesty  that  these  ships,  although 
they  have  not  touched  the  water,  have  cost  me  more  than 
8000  pesos  of  gold  beside  extra  expenses  ;  but,  praise  to 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  407 

our  Lord,  they  are  in  such  a  state  that  they  will  be  ready 
to  sail  on  the  first  day  of  Pentecost,  or  St.  John's  day  in 
June,  if  we  should  have  a  sufficient  supply  of  tar ;  all 
that  I  had  before  was  destroyed  by  the  fire,  and  I  have 
not  yet  been  able  to  replace  it ;  but  I  expect  before  that 
time  to  have  some  brought  from  those  districts  from 
which  I  have  made  arrangements  to  have  it  sent  to  me. 
To  these  ships  I  attach  an  importance  I  am  unable  to 
express ;  for  I  consider  it  certain  that  by  means  of  them, 
if  it  please  God  our  Lord,  your  imperial  Majesty  will 
become  lord  of  more  realms  and  states  in  these  parts 
than  there  exists  any  knowledge  of  in  our  nation  to  the 
present  time  ;  and  that  if  it  please  God  to  guide  your 
Majesty  to  the  attainment  of  this  great  object,  I  believe 
nothing  more  will  be  wanting  to  make  your  Highness 
monarch  of  the  world. 


408  LETTERS   OF    CORTES. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Although  it  has  pleased  God  our  Lord  that  this  great 
city  of  Temixtitan  should  fall  into  our  hands,  it  seemed 
best  to  me  not  to  reside  in  it  for  the  present,on  account  of 
many  inconveniences  ;  and  I  removed  with  all  our  peo^ 
pie  to  thetown  of  Cuyuacan,  situated  on  the  coast  of  the 
lake,  of  which  I  have  made  mention.  But  as  I  always 
desired  that  this  city  should  be  rebuilt,  in  consequence 
of  its  grandeur  and  wonderful  situation,  I  labor- 
ed to  collect  together  its  native  inhabitants  whom 
the  war  had  dispersed  in  various  directions  ;  and 
although  I  had  constantly  retained  its  cacique  a 
prisoner,  and  still  continued  to  do  so,  I  caused  a 
captain-general  whom  I  had  taken  during  the  war,  and 
had  known  from  the  time  of  Muteczuma,  to  superintend 
the  re-peopling  of  the  city.*  In  order  that  this  person 
might  have  greater  authority,  I  restored  to  him  the  same 
office  he  had  held  in  the  time  of  the  cacique,  which  was 
that  of  Ciguacoat,  meaning  "  the  lieutenant  of  the  cacique ;" 
and  to  other  principal  persons  whom  I  had  also  known 
before,  I  gave  a  share  in  the  government  of  the  city,  such 
as  they  had  been  accustomed  to  exercise.  I  also  assign- 
ed to  the  Ciguacoat  and  the  rest  landed  districts  and  peo- 
ple for  their  support,  although  not  of  so  great  an  extent 
as  they  had  before  enjoyed,  nor  sufficient  to  enable  them 
to  do  any  mischief  at  a  future  period.     I  constantly  en- 


*  Gomara  says  that  Cortes  set  at  liberty  Jihucoa,  a  captain-general,  and  gave 
him  charge  of  the  people  and  the  construction  of  houses,  and  jurisdiction  over 
a  ward  of  the  city.  A  son  of  Montezuma  was  employed  in  a  similar  manner. — 
Cron.  Nuev.  £sp.  Cap.  162. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  409 

deavored  to  confer  on  them  honor  and  favor  ;  and  they 
exerted  themselves  with  such  effect  that  there  are  at  this 
time  thirty  thousand  householders  in  the  city,  and  as  much 
order  in  their  markets  and  places  of  business  as  was  wont 
to  prevail.     I  allowed  them  so  many  liberties  and  privi- 
leges, that  every  day  accessions  were  made  to  the  popu- 
lation ;  for  they  lived  very  much  as  they  pleased.    Those 
who  practised  the  mechanic  arts,  of  whom  there  were 
great  numbers,  subsisted  on  the  wages  they  obtained  from 
the  Spaniards  ;  such  as  carpenters,  masons,  stonecutters, 
silversmiths,  &c.     The  merchants  were  in  the  secure 
possession  of  their  goods,  and  succeeded  in  selling  them  ; 
some  people  obtained  a  livelihood  as  fishmongers,  which 
is  a  great  business  in  this  city ;    others  cultivate  the 
ground,  many  of  whom  have  their  gardens  in  which  they 
raise  all  the  garden-stuff  of  Spain,  so  far  as  they  have 
been  able  to  obtain  the  seeds.     And  I  assure  your  im- 
perial Majesty  that  if  they  had  the  plants  and   seeds  of 
Spain,  and  your  Highness  were  pleased  to  order  us  to 
supply  them,  as  in  my  former  despatch  I  begged  you  to 
do,  so  fond  are  the  natives  of  these  parts  of  cultivating 
the  earth  and  raising  plants,  that  in  a  short   time  there 
would  be  a  great  abundance,  from  which  I  think  no  little 
advantage  would  result  to  the   imperial  crown  of  your 
Highness  ;  for  it  would  be  the  cause  of  perpetuating  your 
authority  in  this  land,  increasing  the  rents  of  your  sacred 
Majesty,  and  rendering   more  extensive  the  dominions 
which  your  Highness  in  the  name  of  God  our  Lord  already 
possesses ;  to  effect  which   your  Highness  may  be  as- 
sured no  exertions  will  be  wanting  on  my  part,  but  that 
I  shall  labor  for  it  with  all  the  strength  and  power  that  I 
can  command. 

As  soon  as  the  city  was  taken,  I  immediately   set  to 


410  LETTERS    OF   CORTES. 

work  to  build  a  fortress  in  the  water  on  one  side  of  the 
city,  within  which  the  brigantines  might  be  secure,  and 
from  which  the  whole  city  could  be  attacked  if  necessary ; 
and  that  by  means  of  it  I  might  have  the  power  to  go  out, 
or  come  in,  as  often  as  I  wished ;  it  was  accordingly 
built.  Although  I  have  seen  some  arsenals  and  fortres- 
ses, I  have  never  seen  any  equal  to  this ;  and  many  others 
who  have  inspected  it  say  the  same.  It  is  constructed 
in  the  following  manner :  the  part  that  is  situated  towards 
the  lake  consists  of  two  towers  of  great  strength,  with 
their  embrasures  in  the  appropriate  places ;  one  of  these 
towers  projects  on  one  side  beyond  the  curtain,  and  is 
filled  with  embrasures  that  sweep  the  curtain  ;  the  other 
tower  is  situated  in  the  same  manner  on  the  other  side. 
Between  the  two  towers  rises  the  main  building,  within 
which  the  brigantines  enter,  having  a  door  of  exit  and  en- 
trance between  the  two  towers  towards  the  water ;  and 
the  whole  main  building  is  also  provided  with  embrasures, 
and  on  its  summit  towards  the  city  there  is  another  very 
large  tower,  with  many  apartments  above  and  below, 
from  which  the  city  can  be  attacked  or  defended.  But 
as  I  shall  send  your  Majesty  a  drawing  of  this  structure, 
for  the  better  understanding  of  it,  I  shall  mention  no  more 
particulars,  except  that  its  character  is  such  as  to  place 
in  our  power  peace  or  war,  which  ever  we  may  desire, 
the  ships  as  well  as  artillery  being  contained  within  it. 
This  being  completed,  it  appeared  to  me  that  I  could  now 
safely  settle  our  people  in  the  city,  as  I  was  desirous  of 
doing,  and  I  therefore  removed  to  it  with  my  whole  com- 
pany. The  ground  was  distributed  among  the  house- 
holders ;  and  to  each  of  the  conquerors  I  gave  in  the 
name  of  your  royal  Highness  an  additional  lot,  (which 
they  had  merited  by  their  exertions,)  besides  what  was 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO-  411 

given  to  them  as  householders,  for  which  they  are  obliged 
to  make  some  return  in  the  nature  of  rent,  as  is  the  cus- 
tom in  these  parts.  So  much  expedition  was  used  in 
building  houses,  that  many  of  them  were  already  finished, 
and  others  well  advanced ;  and  great  quantities  of  stone, 
lime,  wood  and  brick  are  collected,  which  the  natives 
procure,  and  from  which  they  all  build  such  large,  fine 
houses,  that  your  sacred  Majesty  may  be  assured  this 
will  be  in  five  years'  time  the  most  noble  and  populous 
city,  and  the  best  built  in  the  whole  world.*  The  quar- 
ter of  the  city  inhabited  by  the  Spaniards  is  separated  by 
an  arm  of  water  from  that  of  the  natives,  although  in  all 
the  streets  that  cross  the  town  there  are  wooden  bridges 
by  means  of  which  one  quarter  communicates  with  an- 
other. There  are  two  great  markets  for  the  natives,  one 
in  their  quarter  and  the  other  in  that  of  the  Spaniards  ; 
in  these  may  be  found  all  kinds  of  provisions  that  the 
country  affords,  for  they  bring  them  here  for  sale  from 
every  part  of  the  land  ;  and  they  want  nothing  of  what 
they  enjoyed  in  the  time  of  their  prosperity.  It  is  true, 
however,  that  neither  jewels  of  gold  or  silver,  nor  feather- 
work,  or  any  other  rich  articles,  are  to  be  obtained  as 
formerly  except  little  trinkets  of  gold  and  silver,  but  even 
these  not  as  in  former  times. 

In  consequence  of  the  misunderstanding  kept  up  with 
me  by  Diego  Velasquez,  and  the  unfriendly  feeling  mani- 
fested through  his  means  towards  me  by  Don  Juan  de 

*  Cortes  erected  a  magnificent  palace  for  himself  on  the  site  of  that  of  Monte- 
zuma, in  the  construction  of  which  seven  thousand  cedar  logs  are  said  to  have 
been  used ;  on  which  account,  says  Gomara,  he  was  accused  by  Panfilo  de  Nar- 
baez  of  having  stripped  the  mountain  forests  of  all  their  cedar  trees.  But  he 
justly  adds,  that  quantity  of  timber  is  nothing  in  a  country  where  the  mountains 
are  covered  with  cedar ;  the  logs  are  often  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  long, 
and  twelve  feet  in  diameter. 


412  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

Fonseca,  bishop  of  Burgos,  the  board  of  trade,  and  es- 
pecially the  auditor  Juan  Lopez  de  Recalde,  on  whom  in 
the  time  of  the  bishop  every  thing  depended,  in  obedience 
to  the  orders  of  Fonseca,  neglected  to  provide  me  with 
artillery  and  other  arms  as  necessity  required,  notwith- 
standing I  often  remitted  money  for  the  purpose.  But 
there  is  nothing  that  whets  the  ingenuity  of  man  more 
than  necessity,  which  in  my  case  was  extreme  as  well 
as  desperate,  since  they  did  not  permit  your  Majesty  to 
know  my  situation.  I  labored  therefore  to  find  means  to 
save  from  total  loss  what  had  been  gained  at  the  expense 
of  so  much  toil  and  danger,  which  would  involve  so  great 
disservice  to  God  our  Lord  and  your  imperial  Majesty, 
and  peril  to  all  of  us  who  were  in  the  country.  To  this 
end  I  made  inquiries  in  several  provinces  for  copper, 
and  offered  a  liberal  exchange  for  it  in  the  way  of  barter, 
as  the  easiest  means  of  obtaining  it.  Large  quantities  of 
this  metal  were  accordingly  brought  to  me,  which  I  put 
into  the  hands  of  a  master- workman  that  I  found  here, 
for  the  purpose  of  being  cast  into  cannon.  Two  pieces 
of  the  size  of  half-culverins  were  the  result  of  this  attempt, 
and  for  their  caliber  no  cannon  could  surpass  them.  But 
although  I  had  a  plenty  of  copper,  there  was  no  tin,  with- 
out which  the  cannon  could  not  be  made  ;  but  for  the  two 
pieces  I  had  procured,  at  considerable  expense,  dishes 
and  other  vessels  that  were  composed  of  it,  which  though 
purchased  at  a  high  price  could  not  be  obtained  cheaper. 
I  then  instituted  inquiries  in  every  direction  for  this  me- 
tal, and  it  pleased  our  Lord,  (who  ever  protects  us,  and 
provides  speedily  for  our  wants,)  that  amongst  the  na- 
tives of  a  province  called  Tachco  [Tazco]  I  should  meet 
with  little  pieces  of  it  resembling  very  small  coins ;  and 
continuing  my  researches,  I  found  it  was  used  as  money 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  41§ 

both  in  that  province  and  others.*  On  tracing  the  mat- 
ter still  further,  I  ascertained  that  it  was  procured  from 
mines  in  Tachco,  twenty-six  leagues  from  this  city,  to 
which  I  immediately  despatched  some  Spaniards  with 
tools,  who  brought  me  specimens  of  it.  After  this  I  gave 
orders  for  obtaining  from  that  source  all  that  was  neces- 
sary, which  was  accordingly  done,  though  with  great 
labor.  In  searching  for  this  metal,  a  rich  vein  of  iron 
ore  was  met  with,  according  to  the  information  of  per- 
sons who  assert  their  knowledge  of  the  fact. 

Having  thus  obtained  a  supply  of  tin,  I  have  caused 
cannon  to  be  founded,  and  every  day  several  pieces  are 
cast ;  as  yet,  however,  only  five  pieces  have  been  finish- 
ed, namely,  two  semi-culverins,  two  of  less  size,  and  a 
serpentine  ;  besides  which  I  have  two  sacres  that  I 
brought  with  me  to  this  country,  and  another  semi-culve- 
rin,  which  I  purchased  amongst  the  effects  of  the  Ade- 
lantado  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon.  By  the  ships  that  have 
already  arrived,  I  shall  receive  thirty-five  brass  pieces, 
large  and  small,  but  all  larger  than  a  falconet ;  and  about 
seventy  iron  pieces,  amongst  which  are  lombards,  pasa- 
volantes,  versos,  and  other  kinds  of  cannon  made  of 
strained  iron.  Thus,  praised  be  our  Lord,  we  shall  be 
able  to  defend  ourselves ;  and  in  regard  to  munitions, 
God  has  been  no  less  provident,  for  we  have  discovered 
saltpetre  of  a  good  quality,  sufficient  for  our  purposes  ; 
and  we  have  the  requisite  vessels  in  which  to  bake  it, 
although  much  has  been  wasted  in  the  first  attempts  that 
were  made.      As   for  sulphur,   I    have  already  made 

*  Humboldt  quotes  this  passage,  which  he  terms  "  the  remarkable  passage  in 
which  Cortes  speaks  of  tin  as  money,"  (Ze  passage  remarquable  dans  lequel  Cor- 
tes parle  de  V  etain  commemonnoie.) — Nouv.  Esp.  486.  4to.  ed. 

53 


414  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

mention  to  your  Majesty  of  a  mountain  in  this  province, 
from  which  much  smoke  issues  ;  out  of  it  sulphur  has 
been  taken  by  a  Spaniard,  who  descended  seventy  or 
eighty  fathoms  by  means  of  a  rope  attached  to  his  body 
below  his  arms  ;*  from  which  source  we  have  so  far  been 
enabled  to  obtain  sufficient  supplies,  although  as  it  is  at- 
tended with  danger,  it  is  hoped  that  it  will  not  be  neces- 
sary for  us  to  resort  to  this  means  of  procuring  it.  I  have 
constantly  written  to  Spain  for  supplies,  and  your  Ma- 
jesty has  been  pleased  that  there  should  be  no  bishop  to 
prevent  our  receiving  them. 

After  having  settled  the  town  of  Santistevan  on  the 
river  Panuco,  completed  the  conquest  of  the  province  of 
Tututepeque,  and  despatched  a  captain  to  Impilcingo 
and  Coliman,  as  I  have  mentioned  in  a  preceding  section 
of  this  despatch,  I  proceeded,  before  returning  to  this 
city,  to  the  towns  of  Vera  Cruz  and  Medellin,  in  order 
to  visit  them,  and  make  such  arrangements  in  regard 
to  those  ports  as  circumstances  seemed  to  require.  When 
I  found  that,  on  account  of  there  being  no  Spanish  set- 
tlement nearer  the  port  of  San  Juan  de  Chalchiqueca 
than  the  town  of  Vera  Cruz,  ships  went  to  the  latter 
place  to  discharge  their  cargoes,  and  that  many  of  them 
were  lost  in  consequence  of  the  insecurity  of  the  harbor, 
which  was  exposed  to  the  violence  of  the  northers  that 
prevail  on  that  coast,  I  went  to  the  port  of  San  Juan  to 
seek  a  suitable  site  for  a  town.  Although  at  the  time  of 
my  first  arrival  there  diligent  search  was  made,  in  which 

*  This  Spaniard  was  Francisco  Montafio,  as  appears  from  a  patent  of  Charles 
V.  which  I  have  seen,  and  in  which  the  fact  is  stated.  Indeed,  it  is  now  settled 
beyond  dispute,  that  Diego  Ordas  was  the  first  to  explore  around  the  volcano, 
and  that  afterwards  Montanos  and  others  returned  and  extracted  sulphur  from  it 
for  making  powder,  which  no  one  has  since  succeeded  in  doing.  L. — See  also 
Humboldt.  Nouv.  Esp.  673,  4to. 


CONQUEST   OF    MEXICO.  415 

I  was  employed  for  several  days,  it  proved  fruitless 
on  account  of  the  hills  of  sand  that  shifted  their  posi- 
tion every  little  while,  and  overspread  the  country.* 
It  pleased  our  Lord,  however,  that  at  the  present  time, 
two  leagues  from  that  port,  a  very  good  site  was  found, 
comprising  all  the  requisite  qualities  for  a  town,  as  it 
contained  much  wood,  water  and  pasturage,  except  that 
there  was  no  stone  suitable  for  building  within  a  con- 
venient distance.  Not  far  from  this  place  a  lake  was 
discovered,  which  I  caused  to  be  explored  with  a  canoe 
to  ascertain  whether  it  communicated  with  the  sea,  or 
whether  boats  could  come  up  by  means  of  it  to  the  pro- 
posed town.  I  found  that  a  river  flowed  from  this  lake 
into  the  sea,  and  that  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  there  was 
a  fathom  of  water  and  more ;  so  that  by  clearing  out  the 
lake,  which  was  much  obstructed  with  trees,  boats  could 
come  up  and  discharge  at  the  very  houses  of  the  town. 
Seeing  the  conveniences  of  the  situation,  and  the  neces- 
sity of  some  change  for  the  benefit  of  the  shipping,  I 
caused  the  town  of  Medellin,  which  was  twenty  leagues 
inland,  in  the  province  of  Tatalptetelco,  to  be  transferred 
to  it ;  and  accordingly  nearly  the  whole  of  its  population 
have  already  removed  and  built  their  houses  at  that 
place.  Orders  have  been  given  for  clearing  out  the  lake, 
and  establishing  a  board  of  trade ;  and  although  there 
will  be  some  delay  in  discharging  the  ships,  on  account 
of  the  necessity  for  ascending  with  boats  the  distance  of 
two  leagues  to  the  lake,  the  shipping  will  be  secure 
from  all  danger.     I  consider  it  certain  that  this  town 

*  The  present  city  of  Vera  Cruz  is  built  on  the  ground  adjudged  by  Cortes  as 
unsuitable  for  a  town.  Humboldt,  in  describing  it,  mentions  the  hills  of  moving 
sand  (des  collines  de  sable  mouvant)  around  the  city,  which  he  says  change  their 
form  and  situation  every  year,  and  contribute  very  much  to  increase  the  suffo-- 
eating  heat  of  the  air  in  the  city. — Nouv.  Esp.  277, 4to.  ed. 


416  LETTERS   OP   CORTES. 

must  be  next  to  the  capital  the  most  flourishing  in 
New  Spain ;  for  already  several  ships  have  discharged 
there,  boats  and  even  brigantines  having  gone  up  laden 
with  goods  to  the  very  houses  of  the  town.  I  shall 
direct  my  attention  particularly  to  this  point,  to  have 
vessels  discharged  without  difficulty,  and  in  the  mean 
time,  as  the  harbor  is  a  good  one,  they  will  be  entirely 
safe.  Great  expedition  has  been  used  also  in  constructing 
roads  from  thence  to  this  city,  that  the  transportation  of 
goods  may  be  facilitated  by  having  a  better  road,  and 
shortening  the  distance. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  417 


CHAPTER  VI. 

I  have  already  mentioned  to  your  Excellency  the 
places  to  which  I  have  sent  people,  both  by  land  and 
sea,  by  whom  under  the  guidance  of  our  Lord  your 
Majesty  has  been  well  served ;  and  I  am  continually  on 
the  watch  and  occupying  myself  with  the  thought,  how 
I  can  best  carry  into  execution  and  accomplish  the  desire 
I  have  to  promote  the  service  of  your  Majesty.  Nothing 
seems  to  remain  but  to  explore  the  coast  lying  between 
the  river  Panuco  and  Florida,  the  latter  being  the  coun- 
try discovered  by  the  Adelantado  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon  ; 
and  then  the  northern  coast  of  Florida  as  far  as  the  Bacal- 
laos  ;*  because  it  is  considered  certain  that  there  is  a 
strait  on  that  coast  which  leads  into  the  South  Sea.  If 
this  should  be  found,  it  appears  to  me  that  it  will  come 
out  near  the  archipelago,  which  Magallanes  by  order  of 
your  Highness  has  discovered,  according  to  a  chart  I 
have,  showing  its  situation.  In  that  case  the  navigation 
from  the  Spice  islands  to  these  dominions  of  your  Majesty 
will  be  rendered  favorable  and  short,  so  much  so  that 
the  distance  will  be  two  thirds  less  than  at  present ;  and 
there  will  be  no  risk  or  danger  to  ships  going  and  return- 
ing, because  their  course  will  always  lie  within  the 
dominions  of  your  Majesty,  and  whenever  there  is  a 
necessity  for  repairs,  they  can  seek  a  harbor  at  any 
point  of  the  voyage  in  the  territories  of  your  Highness. 

*  That  is,  the  entire  coast  of  the  present  United  States  and  British  America 
to  Newfoundland,  then  almost  wholly  unexplored. 


418  LETTERS  OF  CORTES. 

Considering  the  great  advantages  that  will  result  to  your 
Majesty  from  this  enterprise,  although  I  have  incurred 
great  expenses,  and  am  harassed  by  the  extent  of  my 
debts,  contracted  in  fitting  out  expeditions  by  sea  and 
land,  and  procuring  ammunition  and  cannon  for  this  city 
and  various  other  places  to  which  they  are  sent  by  me, 
and  additional  sources  of  expense  are  constantly  occur- 
ring, every  thing  being  done  at.  my  own  charge  ;  and 
whatever  is  wanted  is  so  excessively  dear,  that  notwith- 
standing the  country  is  rich,  the  interest  I  have  in  it  is 
inadequate  to  the  great  expenditure  required — yet  after 
all,  from  a  regard  to  the  considerations  already  suggested, 
and  making  every  obstacle  that  presents  itself  yield  to 
necessity,  I  have  determined  to  send  three  caravels  and 
two  brigantines  to  accomplish  this  object,  although  I  as- 
sure your  Majesty,  I  shall  have  to  borrow  money  to  ena- 
ble me  to  do  it.  The  enterprise  will  cost  me  more  than 
10,000  pesos  of  gold  ;  but  if  the  strait  is  discovered,  it 
will  be  of  more  signal  advantage  to  your  Majesty  ihan 
any  thing  I  have  yet  achieved  ;  and  if  that  discovery  is 
not  made,  it  is  possible  that  others  will  be,  of  rich  and 
widely  spread  lands,  tending  to  promote  the  interests  of 
your  Majesty,  and  greatly  enlarging  the  number  of  realms 
and  seignories  already  subject  to  your  royal  crown.  It 
will  also  be  useful  to  know  that  such  a  strait  does  not 
exist,  so  that  attention  maybe  paid  to  devising  means  for 
securing  the  greatest  possible  benefit  from  the  spice- 
countries,  and  others  in  their  neighborhood ;  an  object 
for  the  accomplishment  of  which  I  offer  my  services  to 
your  Highness,  should  you  be  pleased  to  command  them ; 
so  that  without  the  strait  I  shall  cause  your  Majesty's  af- 
fairs to  be  greatly  advanced,  and  at  a  diminished  expense. 
But  may  it  please  our  Lord  to  crown  this  enterprise  with 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  419 

success  by  the  discovery  of  the  strait !  A  consumma- 
tion the  most  desirable,  and  in  which  I  have  the  greatest 
confidence,  since  nothing  can  be  denied  to  the  good  for- 
tune of  your  Majesty,  and  on  my  part  no  efforts,  atten- 
tion, or  zeal  will  be  spared  in  the  undertaking. 

I  also  propose  to  get  ready  the  ships  I  have  had  built 
on  the  South  Sea,  so  that  if  it  please  our  Lord,  they  may 
sail  at  the  expiration  of  the  month  of  July,  in  this  year, 
1524,  on  a  voyage  down  the  coast  in  quest  of  the  same 
strait ;  since  if  it  exists,  it  must  be  discovered  by  those 
on  the  South  Sea,  as  well  as  the  others  on  the  North  Sea, 
for  the  former  will  run  along  the  coast  until  they  either 
find  the  strait,  or  reach  the  land  discovered  by  Magal- 
lanes  ;  and  the  latter  will  proceed  to  the  north,  as  I  have 
stated,  until  they  arrive  at  the  Bacallaos.  Thus  on  the 
one  side  or  the  other,  I  shall  not  fail  to  ascertain  the  truth. 
I  assure  your  Majesty,  that  according  to  the  information 
I  have  of  the  lands  situated  on  the  upper  coasts  of 
the  South  Sea,  it  would  be  of  great  service  to  my- 
self, and  likewise  to  your  Majesty,  to  send  these 
ships  in  that  direction ;  but  being  well  aware  of  the 
great  desire  of  your  Majesty  to  know  concerning  the  sup- 
posed strait,  and  of  the  great  advantage  the  crown 
would  derive  from  its  discovery,  I  have  laid  aside  all 
other  schemes  more  obviously  tending  to  promote  my 
interests  in  order  to  pursue  this  object  alone  :  May  our 
Lord  so  guide  me,  that  his  service  may  be  advanced  and 
the  desires  of  your  Majesty  accomplished,  while  at  the 
same  time  my  own  wishes  of  rendering  good  service  are 
gratified. 

The  commissioners  sent  by  your  Majesty  to  take  an 
account  of  the  royal  revenue  and  domain  have  arrived, 
and  commenced  the  examination  of  the  returns  made  by 


420  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

the  officers  who  previously  had  charge  of  this  business, 
having  been  designated  by  me  for  this  purpose  in  the 
name  of  your  Highness.  But  since  these  commissioners 
will  render  a  statement  of  the  care  that  has  been  exer- 
cised in  all  these  matters,  I  shall  not  stop  to  do  more 
than  submit  to  your  Majesty's  judgment  on  their  re- 
port, which  I  trust  will  exhibit  evidence  of  the  solici- 
tude and  zeal  that  I  have  ever  manifested  in  whatever 
relates  to  the  royal  service  ;  for  although  the  occupations 
of  war  and  the  reduction  of  this  land  have  employed  me 
to  an  extent  of  which  the  results  may  serve  to  convey 
some  idea,  I  have  not  on  that  account  forgotten  to  take 
especial  care  in  collecting  and  securing  the  greatest  pos- 
sible amount  of  revenue  to  your  Majesty.  As  by  the  ac- 
count which  the  commissioners  transmit  to  your  imperial 
Majesty,  it  appears  that  I  have  expended  of  the  royal 
income  about  sixty-two  thousand  pesos  of  gold,  in  mat- 
ters connected  with  the  pacification  of  these  parts  and 
the  extension  of  your  Majesty's  dominions,  it  is  proper 
your  Highness  should  know  that  it  could  not  have  been 
otherwise  ;  for  when  I  began  to  draw  upon  those  revenues, 
I  had  nothing  left  of  my  own,  and  was  even  indebted 
more  than  thirty  thousand  pesos  of  gold,  that  I  had  bor- 
rowed of  several  persons ;  so  that  I  was  compelled  to  re- 
sort to  that  source  in  order  to  provide  what  the  royal 
service  necessarily  demanded,  as  well  as  my  own  wants. 
But  I  doubt  not  that  the  proceeds  resulting  from  this  ex- 
penditure will  yield  a  profit  of  more  than  one  thousand 
per  centum.*  Since  the  commissioners  have  not  credited 
me  with  the  service   rendered,  because  they  say  their 

*  "Rather,"  says  Lorenzana,  "millions  upon  millions  for  one,"  when  all  the 
wealth  that  has  flowed  into  Spain  from  the  acquisitions  of  Cortes  is  taken  into 
consideration. 


CONQUEST    OP    MEXICO.  421 

powers  do  not  authorize  it,  I  beg  your  Majesty  to  have 
the  amount  refunded  to  me  where  it  has  been  properly 
expended,  as  well  as  about  fifty  thousand  pesos  of  gold 
besides,  which  I  have  taken  from  my  own  means,  or 
borrowed  from  my  friends  ;  for  if  this  is  not  done,  I  shall 
be  unable  to  reimburse  the  borrowed  money,  and  be  left 
in  grea  want.  This  I  do  not  think  your  Catholic  Majesty 
will  permit,  but  rather  besides  causing  me  to  be  repaid 
bestow  on  me  a  liberal  recompense  ;  since  my  services 
rendered  to  your  Highness,  a  Prince  so  catholic  and 
Christian,  are  not  undeserving  of  reward, to  which  then- 
results  bear  testimony. 

By  the  commissioners,  and  the  other  persons  who  came 
with  them,  as  well  as  by  letters  I  have  received  from 
those  realms,  I  have  learned  that  the  articles  which  I 
transmitted  to  your  imperial  Majesty  by  the  hands  of 
Antonio  de  Quifiones  and  Alonso  de  Avila,  the  deputies 
from  this  New  Spain,  did  not  reach  the  royal  presence, 
having  been  captured  by  the  French  in  consequence  of 
the  little  care  taken  by  the  board  of  trade  at  Seville  in 
convoying  them  from  the  islands  of  the  Azores.  But  not- 
withstanding I  have  been  much  grieved  at  the  loss  of  all 
those  rich  and  wonderful  things,  which  I  greatly  desired 
your  Majesty  might  see,  and  which  besides  being  an  ex- 
pression of  my  homage  to  your  Highness,  rendered  my 
own  services  more  manifest :  I  am  yet  pleased  that  they 
were  sent,  for  the  loss  will  be  a  slight  one  to  your  Majesty, 
and  I  shall  exert  my  self  to  obtain  others  much  richer  and 
more  wonderful,  when  I  receive  advices  from  provinces 
for  whose  conquest  I  have  despatched  forces,  and  others 
to  which  I  shall  soon  send,  having  men  in  readiness  for 
that  purpose;  while  the  French  and  other  princes  to  whom 
those  things  may  become  known,  will  by  this   means 

54 


422  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

discover  the  reason  that  these  countries  are  deemed  worthy 
being  brought  under  the  imperial  crown  of  your  Majesty; 
since,  besides  the  numerous  and  powerful  realms  and  seig- 
nories  which  your  Highness  possesses  in  those  parts,  so  re- 
mote and  distant  from  these,  I,  the  least  of  your  subjects, 
am  yet  able  to  render  such  important  services.  As  an 
earnest  of  my  future  offering,  I  now  send  by  my  servant, 
Diego  de  Soto,  a  few  small  articles,  which  before  were 
left  behind,  being  in  an  unfinished  state,  as  unworthy  to 
accompany  the  others  ;  and  some  that  I  have  since  had 
completed,  which  also  were  left  unfinished,  but  now  bear 
some  resemblance  to  the  others.  I.  also  send  a  culverin 
of  silver,  composed  of  twenty-four  quintales  and  two 
arrobas*  in  weight,  though  with  some  loss,  as  it  was  twdce 
fused.  It  was  very  costly ;  since  besides  the  value  of 
the  silver,  amounting  to  twenty- four  thousand  five  hun- 
dred pesos  of  gold,  at  the  rate  of  five  pesos  of  gold  to  the 
marc  ;  the  other  expenses  of  founders,  engravers,  and  of  its 
transportation  to  the  port,  exceeded  three  thousand  pesos 
of  gold  ;  but  I  spared  no  labor  or  expense  to  render  it  in 
point  of  richness  and  beauty  worthy  of  being  presented 
to  so  exalted  and  excellent  a  prince  ;  I  therefore  beg  your 
imperial  Majesty  to  accept  this  slight  expression  of  hom- 
age, as  a  testimony  of  my  disposition  to  render  your  High- 
ness the  greatest  services  in  my  power.f  Although  in- 
volved in  debt,  as  I  have  already  mentioned,  I  did  not 
hesitate  to  incur  a  still  greater  indebtedness,  in  order  that 


*  Two  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  or  about  30,000  Spanish  dollars 
in  value. 

t  According  to  Gomara,  this  silver  cannon  made  a  great  noise  in  Spain,  and 
together  with  60,000  castellanos,  sent  at  the  same  time,  was  the  best  argument 
Cortes  could  offer  against  the  malice  of  his  enemies,  who  were  endeavoring  to 
deprive  him  of  the  Emperor's  favor. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  423 

your  Majesty  might  learn  the  desire  I  have  to  promote 
your  service ;  for  I  have  been  so  unfortunate  heretofore 
as  to  encounter  great  opposition  in  the  presence  of  your 
Highness,  which  has  prevented  this  desire  of  mine  from 
being  made  known. 

I  also  transmit  to  your  sacred  Majesty  60,000  pesos 
of  gold,  which  has  accrued  from  your  royal  revenues,  as 
your  Majesty  will  see  by  the  account  that  your  commis- 
sioners and  I  send  ;  and  we  have  had  the  confidence  to 
forward  so  large  a  sum  at  one  time  both  on  account  of 
the  necessity  experienced  by  your  Majesty,  growing  out 
of  the  wars  and  other  things,  and  because  your  Majesty 
has  received  but  little  as  yet,  in  consequence  of  the 
former  loss.  Hereafter  arrangements  will  be  made  to 
send  every  time  as  great  an  amount  as  possible ;  and 
your  sacred  Majesty  may  be  assured,  that  as  things  are 
now  tending,  and  the  number  of  kingdoms  and  seignories 
of  your  Highness  in  these  parts  increase,  the  revenues 
will  be  more  safely  received,  and  with  less  expense  ; 
for  until  now  there  has  been  no  one  of  all  the  kingdoms 
and  seignories  that  did  not  offer  some  difficulties  and 
embarrassments.  I  say  this,  because  only  two  days 
since  Gonzalo  de  Salazar,  factor  of  your  Highness, 
arrived  at  the  port  of  San  Juan,  in  this  New  Spain,  from 
whom  I  have  learned  that  in  the  island  of  Cuba  from 
whence  he  came  they  informed  him  that  Diego  Velas- 
quez, lieutenant  of  the  admiral,  had  held  a  consultation 
with  the  captain  Christobal  Dolid,  whom  I  had  sent  to 
establish  a  colony  in  Hibueras,  [Honduras,]  in  the  name 
of  your  Majesty ;  and  that  they  had  agreed  to  excite  an 
insurrection  in  the  country  in  favor  of  Diego  Velasquez. 
When  I  considered  the  wickedness  of  the  attempt,  and 
its  injurious  effect  upon  the  service  of  your  Majesty,  I 


224  LETTERS    OE    CORTES. 

was  unable  to  credit  it ;  although,  on  the  other  hand, 
recollecting  the  artifices  by  means  of  which  Diego  Ve- 
lasquez has  always  sought  to  injure  and  embarrass  me, 
eveu,when  he  could  do  nothing  else,  laboring  to  prevent 
people  from  coming  into  these  parts — I  was  induced  to 
believe  it  to  be  true.  As  he  rules  that  island,  he  seizes 
upon  those  who  go  there  from  this  country,  oppresses 
them  in  various  ways,  and  deprives  them  of  much  of 
what  they  carry  with  them  ;  after  being  subjected  to  a 
sort  of  trial,  they  do  and  say  whatever  he  requires  of 
them,  in  order  to  get  out  of  his  power.  I  shall  inform 
myself  of  the  truth  of  this  matter,  and  if  I  find  it  to  be 
as  represented,  I  propose  to  send  for  Diego  Velasquez, 
place  him  under  arrest,  and  have  him  carried  a  prisoner 
to  your  Majesty ;  since  by  striking  at  this  man,  who  is 
the  root  of  all  these  evils,  the  branches  will  wither,  and 
I  shall  be  able  with  greater  freedom  to  complete  the  ser- 
vices I  have  begun,  or  think  of  undertaking. 

Every  time  I  have  written  to  your  sacred  Majesty,  I 
have  mentioned  to  your  Highness  the  disposition  that 
exists  in  some  of  the  natives  of  these  parts  to  embrace 
our  holy  catholic  faith  and  become  Christians ;  and  I 
have  begged  your  imperial  Majesty  to  direct  that  reli- 
gious persons  of  good  life  and  example  be  provided.  As 
very  few,  or  almost  none,  have  yet  come,  and  it  is  cer- 
tain that  they  would  gather  much  fruit  from  their  labors, 
I  again  call  the  attention  of  your  Highness  to  the  subject, 
and  beg  you  to  make  this  provision  with  all  speed ;  for 
by  this  means  God  our  Lord  will  be  greatly  served,  and 
the  desire  of  your  Highness  in  this  case  as  a  good  Catho- 
lic fulfilled.  By  the  deputies,  Antonio  de  Quinones  and 
Alonso  Davila,  the  councils  of  the  towns  of  New  Spain 
and  myself  did  send  to  supplicate  your  Majesty  to  supply 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  425 

bishops  and  other  prelates  for  the  administration  of  the 
offices  of  the  church  and  divine  worship,  and  such  was 
the  view  I  then  entertained  of  the  course  best  to  be 
pursued ;    but   having   well  considered  this   matter,  it 
now  appears  to  me  that  your  sacred  Majesty  may  in  a 
different  manner  provide  for  the  more  easy  conversion 
of  the  natives  of  this  country,  and  their  instruction  in 
the  principles  of  our  holy  faith.     The  plan  I  would  re- 
commend is,  that  a  number  of  religious  persons,   (or 
priests,)  as  I  have  already  mentioned,  zealous  for  the 
conversion  of  this  people,  should  come  out,  for  whom 
houses  and  monasteries  should  be  erected  in  the  pro- 
vinces wherever  it  may  seem  proper ;  and  that  tithes  be 
assigned  them  to  defray  the  expense  of  building  their 
houses,  and  for  their  support,  the  surplus  to  be  applied 
to  the  erection  and  ornamenting  of  the  churches  in  the 
villages  where  the  Spaniards  reside,  as  well  as  to  maintain 
the  clergy  who  officiate  in  them.     Officers  appointed  by 
your  Majesty  should  collect  and  keep  an  account  of  the 
tithes,  and  with  them  supply  the  monasteries  and  churches ; 
for  which  purpose  they  will  be  more  than  sufficient, 
and  a  balance  left  for  the  disposition  of  your  Majesty. 
Let    your   Majesty   petition    his   Holiness   [the    Pope] 
to  grant  you  the  tenths  of  these  parts  for  this  purpose, 
giving  him  to  understand  the  service  rendered  to  God 
our  Lord  by  the  conversion  of  this  people,  which  can  be 
accomplished  in  no  other  way ;  for  if  bishops  and  other 
prelates  are  sent,  they  will  follow  the  custom  practised 
by  them  for  our  sins  at  the  present  day,  by  disposing  of 
the  estates  of  the  church,  and  expending  them  in  pageants 
and  other  foolish  matters,  and  bestowing  rights  of  inheri- 
tance on  their   sons  or  relatives.     A  still  greater  evil 
would  result  from  this  state  of  things  ;  the  natives  of  this 


426  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

country  formerly  had  their  priests,  who  were  engaged  in 
conducting  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  their   religion ; 
and  so  strict  were  they  in  the  practice  of  honesty  and 
chastity,  that  any  deviation  therefrom  was  punished  with 
death  ;  now  if  they  saw  that  the  affairs  of  the  church  and 
\    what  related  to  the  service  of  God  were  entrusted  to 
;    canons  and  other  dignitaries,  and  if  they  understood  that 
;   these  were  the  ministers  of  God,  whom  they  beheld  in- 
dulging in  vicious  habits  and  profaneness,  as  is  the  case 
in  these  days  in  Spain,  it  would  lead  them  to  undervalue 
our  faith  and  treat  it  with  derision,  and  all  the  preaching 
in  the  world  would  not  be  able  to  counteract  the  mis- 
chief arising  from  this  source. 

As  the  conversion  of  this  people  is,  and  ought  to  be, 
the  principal  object  of  your  Majesty,  which  we  likewise 
who  reside  here  ought  as  Christians  to  keep  in  view,  and 
sedulously  endeavor  to  promote,  I  have  sought  to  coun- 
sel your  imperial  Majesty  in  regard  to  this  matter,  and  lo 
express  my  opinion  respecting  it ;  which  I  beg  }^our  High- 
ness to  receive  as  proceeding  from  one  of  your  subjects 
and  vassals,  who  exerts,  and  will  still  continue  to  exert, 
his  strength  in  extending  the  realms  and  seignories  of 
your  Majesty  throughout  this  land,  and  in  making  known 
your  royal  fame  and  great  power  amongst  these  nations  ; 
and  who  at  the  same  time  desires,  and  will  labor  with 
all  his  soul,  to  induce  your  Highness  to  command  the  pro- 
pagation of  our  holy  faith,  as  the  means  of  securing  hap- 
piness in  eternal  life.  As  for  the  purpose  of  establishing 
orders,  consecrating  churches,  their  decorations,  holy  oil, 
&c.  in  the  absence  of  a  bishop,  it  would  be  inconvenient 
to  send  abroad  to  obtain  the  proper  means,  your  Majesty 
should   likewise   petition   his  Holiness  to  delegate  this 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  427 

power,  and  appoint  two  principals  of  religious  orders  to 
come  to  this  country,  one  of  the  order  of  St.  Francis,  and 
the  other  of  the  order  of  St.  Domingo  ;  who  should  also 
have  the  most  ample  powers  that  your  Majesty  can  grant. 
These  lands  are  so  far  removed  from  the  seat  of  the 
Romish  church,  and  Christians  who  do  or  hereafter  shall 
reside  on  them,  are  at  so  great  a  distance  from  spiritual 
consolations,  and  at  the  same  time  so  much  exposed  to 
sinful  practices,  that  it  becomes  absolutely  necessary  his 
Holiness  should  extend  the  religious  ordinances  to  us  by 
conferring  extraordinary  powers  on  these  persons,  which 
may  be  transmitted  by  them  to  others  dwelling  in  these 
parts,  whether  it  be  to  a  General  over  all  the  orders,  or 
to  a  Provincial  of  each  of  them. 

The  tenths  in  this  country  are  farmed  out  to  certain 
towns,  although  some  are  sold  to  the  highest  bidder ;  they 
commence  from  the  year  1523,  before  which  period,  as  it 
seemed  to  me,  they  were  of  too  small  amount  to  be  im- 
posed.    Indeed,  those  who  possessed  any  estates  prior 
to  that  time,  as  the  war  then  prevailed,  expended  more  in 
their  defence  than  the  amount  of  benefit  derived  from 
their  products.     Nevertheless,  if  your  Majesty  please  to 
direct  a  different  course,  whatever  most  tends  to  promote 
your  service  shall  be  done.     The  tenths  of  this  city  for 
the  year  1523,  and  the  present   year,  1524,  have  been 
adjudged  to  be  ofthe  value  or~57550pesos  of  gold  ;  and 
those  of  the  towns  of  Medellin  and  Vera  Cruz  are  esti- 
mated at  1000    pesos  of  gold  ;  but  the   latter  have  not 
been  sold,  and  I  think  will  exceed  that  amount.     I  am 
not  aware  that  those  of  the  other  towns  have  been  ad- 
judged, as  they  are  so  remote  that  I  have  had  no  accounts 
from  them.     This  money  will  be  expended  in  erecting 


428  LETTERS    OF    CORTES. 

churches,*  paying  the  curates  and  sacristans,  and  in  pro- 
viding decorations  and  other  things  required  for  the 
churches  ;  and  an  account  of  the  whole  will  be  taken  by 
the  auditor  and  treasurer  of  your  Majesty.  The  trea- 
surerlwill  receive  the  money,  more  of  which  will  be  paid 
out  without  an  order  from  the  auditor  and  myself. 

I  have  been  informed,  most  Catholic  Sire,  by  persons 
who  have  lately  arrived  from  the  islands,  that  your  Ma- 
jesty's judges  and  officers  of  the  island  of  Espanola 
have  made  proclamation  in  that  and  all  the  other  islands, 
of  an  ordinance  prohibiting  the  exportation  to  New  Spain 
of  any  mares  or  other  breeding  animals,  under  pain  of 
death ;  which  has  been  done  in  order  to  compel  us  to 
purchase  our  cattle  and  beasts  of  burthen  on  the  islands, 
where  they  are  sold  at  an  exorbitant  price.  This  is 
manifestly  wrong  and  injurious  to  your  Majesty's  service, 
by  throwing  obstacles  in  the  way  of  settling  and  civiliz- 
ing this  country  ;  and  the  islanders  well  know  that  they 
are  depriving  us  of  the  means  of  sustaining  what  we 
have  acquired,  and  of  extending  our  conquests,  notwith- 
standing the  substantial  benefits  the  islands  have  received 
from  this  New  Spain,  and  the  little  use  they  have  for 
what  they  deny  us  the  liberty  of  exporting.  I  therefore 
entreat  your  Highness  to  issue  your  royal  order  to  these 
islands,  requiring  them  to  permit  all  persons  to  export 
whatever  they  please  without  any  penalty  or  restriction ; 
since  besides  its  occasioning  no  loss  to  them,  it  would 
prove  of  serious  disadvantage  to  your  Majesty's  interests, 


*  The  appropriation  for  this  purpose  was  accordingly  made,  and  from  the  time 
of  Cortes  a  number  of  fine  edifices  have  been  preserved  in  good  condition ;  as, 
for  example,  those  of  Tepozthan,  Ayacapistla,  Tula,  Mestitlam,  Molango,  Cuer- 
nabaca,  Oculman,  &c,  which  are  adorned  with  the  paintings  of  distinguished 
masters. — L. 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO,  429 

if  we  are  unable  on  account  of  their  prohibition  to  sus- 
tain our  acquisitions,  or  to  extend  them.  I  might  have 
retaliated  in  such  a  manner  as  would  have  made  them 
desirous  of  recalling  their  orders  and  proclamations ;  for 
by  also  prohibiting  the  importation  from  the  islands  of 
any  thing  except  what  they  had  refused  us  permission  to 
export  from  thence,  they  would  have  been  glad  to  allow 
us  to  bring  the  prohibited  articles  in  order  to  have  the 
liberty  of  supplying  us  with  others  ;  since  their  chief  de- 
pendence is  on  their  trade  with  this  country,  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  islands,  who  before  it  commenced  had  not 
altogether  a  thousand  pesos  of  gold,  having  now  more 
than  they  for  a  long  time  possessed.  But  in  order  to 
prevent  the  evil  disposed  from  wagging  their  tongues, 
(estender  suslenguas,)  I  have  dissembled  my  feelings,  until 
a  statement  could  be  made  to  your  Majesty,  and  such 
orders  promulgated  by  your  Highness  as  the  royal  service 
requires. 

I  have  also  informed  your  imperial  Majesty  of  the  ne- 
cessity of  introducing  plants  of  all  kinds  into  this  country, 
and  of  the  natural  adaptation  of  the  soil  to  every  species 
of  agriculture  ;  but  as  no  attention  has  hitherto  been  paid 
to  this  matter,  I  renew  my  request  to  your  Majesty,  from 
its  future  importance  to  the  public  interests,  that  orders 
may  be  sent  to  the  board  of  trade  at  Seville  for  every 
ship  to  take  a  certain  number  of  plants,  and  none  to  sail 
without  them,  as  the  introduction  of  them  will  contribute 
greatly  to  the  settlement  and  permanent  advantage  of 
the  country. 

As  it  is  incumbent  on  me  to  regulate  the  condition  of 
the  country  in  the  best  possible  manner,  both  to  promote 
its  colonization,  and  to  preserve  and  perpetuate  the 
Spanish   and  native  settlements,  as  well  as   to  plant 

55 


430  LETTERS    OF    CORTEfe. 

deeply  our  holy  faith  throughout  the  land  over  which 
your  Majesty  has  been  pleased  to  give  me  authority  as 
a  reward  for  ray  labors,  and  God  our  Lord  to  make  me 
the  means  of  spreading  a  knowledge  of  himself,  besides 
reducing  it  beneath  the  imperial  yoke  of  your  Highness — 
I  have  established  certain  ordinances,  and  ordered  them 
to  be  proclaimed ;  but  as  I  have  sent  copies  of  them  to 
your  Majesty,  I  shall  only  say  further  that  so  far  as  my 
experience  has  gone,  it  is  extremely  desirable  these  ordi- 
nances should  be  obeyed.  Nevertheless,  the  Spaniards 
who  reside  here  are  dissatisfied  with  some  of  them, 
especially  those  that  oblige  them  to  fix  their  abode  in 
the  country  ;  since  all  or  most  of  them  intend  to  do  here 
as  they  have  done  in  the  islands,  where  they  were  pre- 
viously settled,  that  is,  to  impoverish  and  destroy  the 
country  and  then  abandon  it.  But  it  appears  to  me  that 
it  would  be  inexcusable  in  us  who  have  had  experience 
of  the  past  not  to  provide  a  remedy  for  the  present  and 
the  future,  guarding  against  those  abuses  that  have  led 
most  manifestly  to  the  loss  of  the  islands,  especially 
since  this  country,  as  I  have  often  written  to  your  Ma- 
jesty, is  of  surprising  extent  and  richness,  and  affords  in 
so  ample  a  manner  the  means  of  promoting  the  service 
of  God  our  Lord,  and  increasing  the  revenues  of  your 
Majesty.  I  therefore  beg  your  Majesty  to  direct  an  ex- 
amination to  be  made  of  these  ordinances,  and  to  make 
such  further  regulations  as  may  better  subserve  the  inte- 
rests of  your  Highness,  enjoining  a  strict  compliance 
with  both  the  one  and  the  other.  In  the  mean  time  I 
shall  not  fail  to  make  such  additions  to  them  as  may 
appear  to  me  requisite  and  proper ;  since  on  account  of 
the  extent  and  diversity  of  the  lands  which  are  daily 
discovered,  and  the  many  important  matters  constantly 


CONQUEST    OF    MEXICO.  431 

brought  to  light,  it  becomes  necessary  to  form  new  plans, 
and  adopt  new  councils  ;  and  if  any  of  these  I  now 
communicate  to  your  Majesty,  or  shall  hereafter  com- 
municate, appear  to  conflict  with  former  ones,  your  Ex- 
cellency will  consider  that  a  change  of  circumstances 
has  led  to  a  change  of  opinion  as  to  the  expediency  of 
measures. 

Most  invincible  Caesar,  may  God  our  Lord  protect  the 
imperial  person  of  your  Majesty,  and  in  his  holy  pleasure 
prosper  and  preserve  you  for  many  years,  granting  acces- 
sions of  greater  realms  and  seignories,  and  all  else  that 
your  Highness  may  desire.  From  the  great  city  of 
Temixtitan  of  this  New  Spain,  the  fifteenth  day  of  Oc- 
tober, one  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty-four.* 

Your  Sacred  Majesty's  very  humble  servant  and 
subject,  who  kisses  the  royal  feet  and  hands  of  your 
Majesty. 

HERNANDO  CORTES. 


*  The  conquest  took  place  m  1521,  and  in  three  years  after,  Cortes,  in  this 
despatch,  speaks  as  if  fifty  years  of  wise  government  had  elapsed.  I  shall  ever 
reverence  Cortes,  and  respect  his  name  as  that  of  a  civil,  military,  and  religious 
hero,  unexampled  in  his  career ;  a  subject  who  bore  the  freaks  of  fortune  with 
fortitude  and  constancy ;  and  a  man  destined  by  God  to  add  to  the  possessions 
of  the  Catholic  king  a  new  and  larger  world. — h. 


